Scams come in all different shapes and sizes. Nobody likes the thought of being scammed and being aware of what scams are out there, helps to keep safe.
So, let’s get this straight: Anyone can fall for a scam. It doesn’t depend on age, intelligence or how much money you have in the bank – scammers don’t care.
Scammers rely on three things:
- They can convince you to you want what they have
- They can convince you to part with your money
- If you discover it is a scam, you will not report it
At Inchwater Home Care, we have seen first hand how intelligent, articulate, people can be swindled out of thousands of pounds. These people believed they would be able to see through a scam but, as we found out, that wasn’t the case.
So we have put together 5 questions you should ask and a 5 point plan that we think would have helped those people. It is simple to follow and, although it might not prevent every circumstance, it adds towards an overall awareness of scamming that will certainly help.
If you would like printable copies of these, click here.
So, here are the Top 5 Questions to ask:
- Is the offer “too good to be true”?
There’s probably a good reason for it! Be suspicious of any “too good” offers and use the ScamSafe rules (scroll down) to help make safe choices. Don’t forget, ‘guaranteed’ schemes are only as good as the company behind them.
- Do you need to commit to the offer right now?
Most legitimate companies will happily contact you back at a later date if you would like time to review their offer. Companies asking for an immediate decision are probably not worth the risk.
- What do you know about the person or company making the offer?
Have you heard of them? Have you seen an advert for the company (in a paper, magazine or on TV—*not* on a website). Smaller companies may not have the advertising budget, but you should still be able to find out who and where they are.
- Did you ask the person or company to contact you?
If you didn’t, be wary. Are you sure the person contacting you is actually from the company or could it be a scammer? Legitimate companies will always have a contact number you can call to verify their details. Ask them why have they contacted you now and where did they get your details?
- Is the company calling you asking for money before you receive the goods/service?
Be very careful! Some companies record telephone calls to prove acceptance of their offer and, although you should get a ‘cooling off’ period, there is no guarantee the person you are talking to is who they say they are.
These questions and the ScamSafe plan can be downloaded here: Be ScamSafe!
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These questions and the ScamSafe plan can be downloaded here: Be ScamSafe!
If you have any questions about ScamSafe, or would like to know more about how you can beat the scammers, please call.