 ❤️ Love is in the air! ❤️ Or is it?
Online daters are being urged to be vigilant to avoid romance fraud in the run up to Valentine’s Day.
While the majority of online dating profiles are genuine, scammers are known to create fake profiles as a way to target people. Recent figures show almost £92 million has been lost through dating scams this past year alone.
So as Valentine's Day approaches, remember to:
- only use reputable dating sites
- avoid giving away too many personal details
- never send money or give your bank details to someone you've only just met online
Be wary of matches who may ask a lot of personal questions, but not tell you much about themselves, and those who invent a reason to ask for your help, particularly when it involves needing money.
Throughout the pandemic unscrupulous criminals have created numerous Covid-19 related scams to try and take advantage of vulnerable people. With so many updates and all the information circulating about Covid-19, it can be hard to know what is genuine and what isn’t.
Remember, the NHS will NEVER ask for bank details or ask you to pay for the Covid-19 vaccine or the NHS Covid-19 Pass.
Our website has a dedicated COVID-19 scams prevention page where you can find more advice and top tips on how to protect yourself and your loved ones against scams. You can also report a scam by contacting the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133, or completing their online form.
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With the cost of living rising, more people are vulnerable to loan fee fraud than ever before. This type of fraud occurs when someone pays a fee upfront for a loan they never receive. Victims of this type of scam unfortunately lose £274 on average.
If you are thinking of taking out a loan, follow these tips to protect yourself:
- Always check that the loan provider is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) before you borrow any money.
- Be wary if you are asked to pay an upfront fee, to pay quickly, or to pay in an unusual way such as via a money transfer or with vouchers because these are all signs of a potential scam.
If you are concerned about any financial service you have paid for or think you may have been contacted by an unauthorised firm trying to scam you, then you should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service for advice on 0808 223 1133, or complete their online form
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Love your trusty household appliances? Then make sure you are kept up to date if ever a safety repair or recall is needed by registering them with Register My Appliance.
Registering your appliances is free and easy and only takes a few minutes to do. It works for almost 60 brands and covers household appliances that are up to 12 years old.
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