How to protect yourself from scams

A scam is when someone tries to take your money by pretending to help you, or by offering you something which they are not going to give you.

If someone pretends to help you, they might ask you for information which can help them to try to take your money.

An envelope with an address, a baby next to a calendar with a date circled, and a computer with a password on the screen

They might ask for your:

name
date of birth
address
bank account details
card details
passwords
passcodes

A woman scratching her head and looking confused standing next to a question mark

It can be difficult to tell if something is a scam, or if it is real.

A man with his hand on his chin and a thought bubble above his head

If you stop and think before you share information or pay money, it might help you to work out if something is a scam.

A woman next to some money and a red love heart

There are lots of different types of scams. This easy read is about impersonation scams and romance scams.

Impersonation Scams

A woman with a speech bubble with a police officer inside

An impersonation is when someone pretends to be someone else.

A woman with a speech bubble with a police officer inside next to a pile of money

An impersonation scam is when someone pretends to be someone you think you can trust so they can try to take your money.

Image of a bank, a white van, a police officer, and a gas flame

They might pretend to be:

your bank
the police
a delivery company
a gas, electric, phone or water company
a government department like HMRC or DWP

A man shrugging his shoulders in front of lots of different leaflets on different types of benefits like Carers Allowance, and Personal Independence Payment

HMRC is the department which works out how much tax you have to pay.

DWP is the department which helps people with pensions and benefits.

A man on the phone, next to an email open on a tablet, a mobile phone, and other devices

They might contact you by phone, text, email or social media.

A hand holding 5, 10, and 20 pound notes

They will try to get you to give them money or to give them information which could help them to try to take your money.

A man in a wheelchair has his finger in the air with a picture of a light bulb next to him

Remember:

A pile of 10 pound notes with a green arrow and a red cross next to it

Your bank will never ask you to transfer your money to a ‘safe’ account.

Close of hands being placed in handcuffs with a red cross

HMRC will never say they might arrest you.

A police officer with a speech bubble containing a pile of money, with a red cross on one side

The police will never ask you to take money out of your account to help them.

Two people standing next to a stopwatch with a pile of money and a green arrow

Only criminals will try to rush and panic you into taking money out of your account, or moving it to a different account.

Two people standing next to a stopwatch with personal information in front of them

Only criminals will try to rush or panic you into sharing information about yourself.

If you get a message or a call that you did not know you were going to get

A pile of money and a round information symbol with a letter i inside

and someone asks you for money, or information which could help them to take your money,

call the organisation back on a number you can trust.

A woman on the phone with a bank building behind her

For example, if someone says they are from your bank, say you will call them back.

A bank debit card with a long number, and the date off issue and expiry

You can find the phone number for your bank on your bank card.

Romance scams

Two men in a relationship hold each other

A romance is a relationship between 2 people who are in love with each other.

A young man giving a bouquet of flowers to a young woman

A romance scam is when someone tries to get you to fall in love with them, or pretends they are in love with you

so they can try to take your money.

A laptop, tablet and mobile phone all showing social media pages

They might make a fake profile on dating apps or on social media and try to start a friendship or a relationship with you.

They might look up information about you online to find out what you like.

series of different emojis - thumbs up, crying face, angry face, happy face, wow face, love heart.

They might make up stories to make you feel sorry for them, or to make you feel special.

A woman holding her hands to a chest with a love heart in a red circle behind her

They might start to say that they love you after a few messages.

A video call on mobile phones between two women with a red cross over one corner

But they do not video call, or meet you in real life.

A man holding up a tablet with a picture of money on it

They ask you to send them money.

A train ticket and image of a train in front of it

They might say they need the money to pay to come and visit you.

Or to help to pay for medical help for themselves or someone they know.

A woman with a thought bubble with a green tick and red cross inside it

When you meet someone online, it is difficult to know if someone is who they say they are.

A woman points upwards with a glowing lightbulb next to her

Remember:

A hand holding 5, 10, and 20 pound notes with a red cross over one corner

Do not send money to a person you have never met in real life.

A man and a woman shake hands with a red cross over one corner of the image

Be careful of people who will not meet you in real life, even if they say why they can not meet you.

Two women have their arms round each others shoulders and hold thumbs up

Only accept friend requests from people you know and trust.

Two men and a woman stand together speaking to each other

Speak to family and friends if you are not sure if someone is who they say they are.

If someone asks you for information or money:

A man holding his hand up in front of him with a stern look on his face

Stop

A hand holding 5, 10, and 20 pound notes and an information symbol

Stop before you share information or pay money.

A man holding his hand to his chin thinking

Think

A woman with two thought bubble above her, one with a green tick and the other with a red cross in them

Think ‘Is this a scam, or is it real?’

Two women talking - one looks worried and holds her arms out

You might also want to ask someone you trust if they think it is a scam or if it is real.

A woman and a man sit and talk to each other

Get help

If you think you may have given information or money to someone as part of a scam,

A high street bank with a cashpoint on the side

contact your bank as soon as you can.

A laptop with a website on the screen and a bank card

Their phone number should be on their website , or on your bank card.

A mobile phone with an image of a high street bank and a 20 pound note on the screen

You can also contact your bank about scams via your banking app.

If you are in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by phoning 0300 123 2040.

A map of the UK and Republic of Ireland highlighting Scotland in dark green

If you are in Scotland, you should report it to Police Scotland by phoning 101.

A yellow circle with a drawing of a hand in black inside - text reads Take Five to Stop Fraud

Find out more

Take Five is a campaign which gives advice about how to try to make sure no-one tricks you and takes your money.

A laptop with a blue screen and www. underlined on it

You can find advice about the Take Five campaign online at www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk

If you have a learning disability or care for someone with a learning disability and want to find out more about scams or the Take Five campaign, you can call Mencap‘s Learning Disability Helpline on 0808 808 1111.

This easy read was co-written by Mencap and UK Finance.