Fraudsters are expected to use upcoming cost-of-living payments as a new way to target victims.
Common scams include fake tax rebates, bogus energy company discounts, offers of "cheap insurance", and bogus social media competitions offering "free holidays". Fake investments, for example in cryptocurrency schemes, are also common, with scammers using bogus celebrity endorsements to lure people in.
People could also check their credit report to see if someone else has fraudulently used their identity to apply for credit. Chris Ainsley, head of fraud risk management at Santander UK, says he's expecting scammers to use cost-of-living payments as a new way to strike.
The cost-of-living package being delivered in the coming months includes a £400 discount on energy bills which will start from October, with £66 being applied to bills in October and November, rising to £67 each month from December through to March 2023.
The discount will be administered by energy suppliers - and it's also important to bear in mind that the UK Government says no household should be asked for bank details at any point as the discount is applied.
Other support measures include a £650 one-off cost-of-living payment for households on certain means-tested benefits; a £300 one-off pensioner cost-of-living payment for pensioner households to be paid alongside the winter fuel payment; and a £150 one-off disability cost-of-living payment for people who receive certain disability benefits.
Consumer group Which? says there has already been a jump in energy-related scams exploiting the cost-of-living crisis - so consumers should be wary of texts, emails or letters about the energy bills discount.
The consumer group has already seen scam emails pretending people are due a refund, due to a miscalculation on their energy bill.
If you receive a suspect text, you can report it to Ofcom by forwarding it to 7726. And if you think you've been tricked into transferring money or giving personal banking details, tell your bank immediately. Scams can also be reported to Action Fraud.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
