Top ten scams targeting consumers On Wednesday, the Office of Fair Trading is launching a campaign to raise awareness of the ways in which people are conned to try to stop this happening.
To coincide with the launch, OFT has identified the top ten scams targeted at UK consumers.
WORK-AT-HOME SCAMS
Work-at-home and business opportunity scams are often advertised as paid work from home.
On application, would-be workers are asked for money up-front to pay for materials and, after payment, hear nothing.
Alternatively, people are asked to invest in a business with little chance of success.
TELEPHONE LOTTERY SCAMS
These include scams which go under the name of genuine lotteries like the Canadian lottery and the El Gordo Spanish lottery.
Telephone
Unsolicited calls tell people they are being entered into a draw
Unsolicited telephone calls tell people they are being entered into a prize draw.
Later, they receive a call congratulating them on winning a substantial prize in a national lottery.
But before they can claim their prize, they are told they must send money to pay for administration fees and taxes.
The prize, of course, does not exist. |