Check if something might be a scam

Summary

You can use our online tool to get advice. Our tool will ask you questions and use your answers to give you advice on: * how to check whether something is a scam If something seems too good to be true, it might be a scam – for example, a holiday that’s much cheaper than you’d expect or getting an item in the post that you didn’t order. A scam can often start when someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly. * you suspect you’re not dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address * you’ve been asked to transfer money quickly * you've been asked to pay in an unusual way – for example, by iTunes vouchers or through a transfer service like MoneyGram or Western Union * you’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs * you haven't had written confirmation of what's been agreed To find out about scams across the country, you can sign up to the Trading Standards email alert on their website. Trading Standards can investigate and take court action against scammers. If you want to know about scams in your local area, sign up for email alerts on Action Fraud's website. Paying more for something than you think it’s worth isn’t the same.

Key information

• •how to check whether something is a scam
• •what to do if you've been scammed
• •you suspect you’re not dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address
• •you’ve been asked to transfer money quickly
• •you've been asked to pay in an unusual way – for example, by iTunes vouchers or through a transfer service like MoneyGram or Western Union
• •you’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs
• •you haven't had written confirmation of what's been agreed
• •You can use our online tool to get advice. Our tool will ask you questions and use your answers to give you advice on:
• •If something seems too good to be true, it might be a scam – for example, a holiday that’s much cheaper than you’d expect or getting an item in the post that you didn’t order.
• •A scam can often start when someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly.
• •* you suspect you’re not dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address
• •* you've been asked to pay in an unusual way – for example, by iTunes vouchers or through a transfer service like MoneyGram or Western Union

Practical guidance

• •Source: [Check if something might be a scam](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/check-if-something-might-be-a-scam/)

Related topics