​’Tis the season to be scamming, so here’s some tips to keep safe - Steve Cardownie

I am fortunate in that my mobile phone alerts me to potential scam calls, but it cannot warn me about scam emails or texts and I, along with many others, have noticed a distinct upsurge in this scam activity.

According to sources, the average number of scams we face annually tops out at 150 and research has found that people could lose up to £3,000 through the various scams that are on the go.

So, what are some of the more prevalent frauds and scams that we should be looking out for?

One scam involves text messages and phishing emails purporting to be from Government organisations asking for personal details in order that they can send out rebates or payments – which are bogus.

These are notoriously difficult to spot if only glanced at so pay attention.

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts – These scams can involve fraudulent offers like phone bill discounts from your provider and scams which pretend to be from large supermarket chains offering discount vouchers off your next shopping bill.

Be careful of social media adverts through Facebook etc which offer goods at fantastic prices but, once they have been paid for, may not be sent out.

And then there’s travel offers showing much lower rates than the market average.

Action Fraud, which monitors such activity, reported that last year there was a 120 per cent increase in this kind of fraud on the previous financial year.

There was an average loss per victim amounting to £1,868 – so ensure that you always book with reputable companies and check that they are registered with ABTA, the travel association.

The impersonation of financial institutions is rife, with the Office for National Statistics stating that 32 per cent of phishing attempts are along these lines, via email, text or through social media messaging.

These phishing scammers are claiming that there is an issue with the victim’s account or digital wallet and that they are required to provide their personal details to access their account again.

This would obviously provide the fraudsters with access to this information and leave a large dent in your savings.

A friend of mine recently received a text saying and that he was not at home when a courier attempted to deliver a parcel, providing a link asking for information to reschedule the delivery and requesting a fee for doing so.

Suffice to say that he ignored this text and did without the likely fictitious parcel.

Loan fee fraud is also on the increase as people try come to terms with the daily struggle of coping with the cost-of-living crisis.

Those applying for a loan are asked to pay an upfront fee for a loan or credit that they never see. Fake websites will also deprive you of your cash.

By August of last year, 95,000 scams across 174,000 websites were removed – so make sure that you buy your goods from legitimate websites and look for the closed padlock on the left side of the address bar.

As with all such scams mentioned above, if in doubt, do nowt!