Get Involved Latest News How to spot a scam Scammers try to quickly gain your trust. They aim to pressure you into acting without thinking. If a message or call makes you suspicious, stop, break the contact, and consider the language it uses. Scams often feature one or more of these tell-tale signs. Authority Is the message claiming to be from someone official? For example, your bank, doctor, solicitor, or government department. Criminals often pretend to be important people or organisations to trick you into doing what they want. Urgency Are you told you have a limited time to respond (such as 'within 24 hours or 'immediately')? Criminals often threaten you with fines or other negative consequences. Emotion Does the message make you panic, fearful, hopeful or curious? Criminals often use threatening language, make false claims of support, or tease you into wanting to find out more. Scarcity Is the message offering something in short supply, like concert tickets, money or a cure for medical conditions? Fear of missing out on a good deal or opportunity can make you respond quickly. Current events Are you expecting to see a message like this? Criminals often exploit current news stories, big even, ts, or specific times of year (like tax reporting) to make their scam seem more relevant to you. How to check if a message is genuine If you have any doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly. Don’t use the numbers or addresses in the message – use the details from their official website. Remember, your bank will never ask you to supply personal information via email, or call and ask you to confirm your bank account details. If you suspect someone is not who they claim to be, hang up and contact the organisation directly. If you have paper statements or a credit card from the organisation, official contact details are often written on them.