Don’t let the appeal of ‘too good to be true’ offers or prices on flights or accommodation leave you out of pocket. Criminals pretend to be trusted organisations, offering you holiday, or flight deals to try to steal your money. They may even research your social media and call you out of the blue to say one of your friends recommended you, to appear legitimate.

Follow our tips to protect yourself from holiday fraud: 

• Always research the company you’re booking through and read reviews
• Be wary of clicking on links from social media, emails or messages
• If someone calls you out of the blue saying a friend recommended you, hang up
• Always use a secure payment platform from trusted retailers – avoid paying with bank transfer
• Check that the travel company or agent is a member of a trade body such as ATOL or ABTA

Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Animal lovers are being reminded to take extra care when buying a pet online, as scammers will regularly post fake adverts for non-existent animals and pet accessories online.

Make sure you carry out some research if you’re making a purchase from a website or person you don’t know and trust. Look for reviews of the person or website you are buying from.

You should always try to see the animal in person, but if this isn’t possible, ask for a video call. If you’re buying a young animal, make sure you’re able to see the mother and rest of the litter. If the seller declines, challenge them, because any responsible seller will understand the request.

Choose your payment method carefully and avoid paying by bank transfer. Credit card or payment services such as PayPal give you a better chance of recovering your money should the sale turn out to be a scam.

Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, walk away.

With local elections taking place in May it is important to be on your guard against electoral fraud.

Whether you vote by post or in person, your vote is yours alone. It does not belong to anyone who tries to:

• intimidate you
• pretend to be you
• bribe you
• enter the polling booth with you

If someone tries to take your vote, or the vote of anyone you know, this is electoral fraud. It’s illegal for anyone, even a partner, family member or friend, to influence you to vote against your will.

You can report electoral fraud to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.

Did you know swallowing button batteries can cause serious internal damage?

Even 'dead' button batteries can still have enough power to badly hurt a small child. When you remove a button battery, store it securely, and recycle it properly and promptly.

Make sure you know what gadgets and toys use button batteries and always check that the button battery compartment is secure.

Store spare button batteries securely and out of children’s reach. Be careful when opening multipacks of button batteries to ensure they do not fall on the floor.

If you suspect your child has swallowed a button battery, dial 999 or take them to the nearest A&E department.

Now that the warmer weather has arrived, please be alert to uninvited doorstep traders offering home repairs or garden maintenance. 

If an uninvited trader knocks on your door and tells you that urgent work needs doing on your house or garden, don’t take their word for it. Also be wary of traders offering ‘today only’ offers. This is pressure selling! Reputable tradespeople often have a waiting list for work and can never normally attend on the day.

You can deter unwanted doorstep traders by displaying a ‘no uninvited callers’ sign on your door or in your front window. You can download a free 'no uninvited callers' sign from our website.

If you need work doing, always get a second opinion from someone you trust and get at least 3 quotes before having any work carried out. You can find a reputable trader by speaking to friends/family or choose one that is part of the Buy With Confidence scheme.

For consumer advice or to report a trader to Trading Standards, please call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.

Before you get tempted by cheaper online prices, remember that not everything you see advertised on an online platform is sold by that platform.

If the actual supplier is not based in the UK, you may face heightened risks.

Think before you buy and take a moment to check if the seller is legit. Compare the product’s price with other sellers. If it’s a fraction of the cost, it’s likely to be counterfeit.

You can also search ‘product recalls’ on the UK Government website to see if any problems or safety issues have been identified with a potential purchase.

If you think you’ve bought an unsafe product report it to Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133.

If you are worried about scams or are concerned about a friend or relative who may be vulnerable to scammers, Friends Against Scams has some free online learning about the different types of scams and how to spot and prevent them.

With increased knowledge and awareness, we can make scams part of everyday conversation enabling us all to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Once you've completed the session, turn your knowledge into action - spread the word, protect others and take a stand against scams!