Scams are not something new sadly with millions of us receiving a text or email every day asking us to hand over personal information.
Due to covid, we have seen a rise in scams whether it's vaccine passports, LFT and PCR test kits or asking us to self-isolate - each one proving us with a link to enter our details.
But now a new scam is circulating and it involves the Census.
According to the National Records of Scotland, the 2021 census in Scotland was moved to March 20 2022 due to the impact of the covid pandemic.
But now that the Census is underway and households up and down the country are filling out forms, people have been warned to keep an eye out for fraudsters targeting their bank account.
Advice Direct Scotland (ASD), who runs the national consumer advice service consumeradvice.scot, urged people to be aware of the signs of potential fraudsters attempting to gather personal or financial information.
The charity said scammers may request money for a fine or fee or ask for personal information such as your national insurance number, bank details or debit or credit card details.
They added that Scotland's Census will never ask for money or any form of personal financial details.
ADS stressed that people should only provide personal information in the formal online Scotland’s Census questionnaire and explained households will only be sent a paper copy if they specifically requested it.
If someone comes to your door, you will also need to be wary and ask for ID to ensure they are legit.
The charity has said that people may visit your home but only if you have not completed it after March 20 or if you have been selected for the Census Coverage Survey.
To keep you up-to-date with the latest Census scam, Advice Direct Scotland answered a series of questions on what a Census scam might look like, and what someone should do if they suspect they have been targeted.
Here's what you need to know...
What could a Census scam look like?
A scammer may request payment of money for a fine or fee, or personal financial information, such as your national insurance number, bank details, or debit and credit card details. Scotland’s Census will never ask for money or personal financial information - if you receive a request for these, you can be sure it is a scam.
How do you know if communication claiming to be from Scotland’s Census is real?
You will been contacted by letter to ask you to complete the Census and tell you what you need to do. After that, you will only be phoned, emailed, or sent a text by Scotland’s Census if you have asked them to, or if you have requested something from them.
Will Scotland’s Census visit me at home?
You may be visited by one of the Scotland’s Census field team, but only after March 20 2022, if you have not completed your Census questionnaire or if you have been selected for the Census Coverage Survey. Scotland’s Census will never cold call you over the phone for any reason.
Will Scotland’s Census gather any personal information?
Although the Census does collect some personal information, remember you should only provide this information in your Census questionnaire, either online or on paper. You will only be sent a paper questionnaire if you have asked for one.
Reporting a suspected Census scam
If you suspect you have been approached by a scammer claiming to be from Scotland’s Census, you can report this to dataprotection@nrscotland.gov.uk, or Advice Direct Scotland at www.consumeradvice.scot.
If you have made a payment, or provided any personal financial information, you should contact your bank or building society.
If you feel threatened or intimidated by someone calling at your property, you can contact Police Scotland on '999' in an emergency, or on '101' (non-emergency number).
Scottish citizens can also report suspected scams and suspicious activity at www.scamwatch.scot.
Colin Mathieson, spokesperson for Advice Direct Scotland, said: "The official Census of everyone in Scotland starts this week and our tips highlight some of the ways scammers may attempt to gather personal and financial information.
"One of the most important things to remember is that Scotland’s Census will not ask for money or personal financial information like a person’s bank details.
"If you suspect you have been approached by a scammer claiming to be from Scotland’s Census, you can report this directly to National Records of Scotland or to us at www.scamwatch.scot and our advisers will be able to assist you."
