Scams and warnings

A scam is a dishonest scheme designed to cheat and con you out of your money.

We use these pages to provide consumers with news about scams and will provide information about new scams, and new variations on old scams. We will explain how to avoid scams and how to report them.

We also issue warnings and alerts on any new scam that we become aware of.

You can also send your scam letters free to: Scamnesty - Trading Standards, Freepost (CV681), Coventry CV1 1BR or report any scams to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud reporting centre on 0300 123 2040.

London 2012 - information on how to Stay Safe Online and learn about all the scams using London 2012's name please visit the Official London 2012 website.

London 2012 - Tickets are strictly non-transferable and must not be sold or advertised for sale on the internet, in newspapers or anywhere else other than via the official London 2012 ticket resale programme. For more information please visit: http://www.tickets.london2012.com/about_tickets_p2.html

London 2012 - For advice on ticket sales and how to avoid being scammed.

Typical scams

• fake foreign lotteries
• deceptive sweepstakes and prize draw mailings
• bogus charity and clothing collections
• Phishing - e-mails that look like they are from your bank
• home-working and other 'get rich quick' cons 
• miracle health cures
• bogus psychic predictions
• fake ticket websites
• bogus holiday clubs
• Stocks & Shares - Bogus Stockbrokers

Buying tickets for events, festivals and music concerts - follow the Just Ticket Campaign which aims to increase consumer awareness of fake ticketing websites and provide ticket buyers with helpful and practical advice on how to avoid being scammed.