The best way to protect yourself from scams is to be aware of them. Scammers are always coming up with new ways to trick people, so it’s important to stay informed and know what to look for. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Don’t give out your personal information to anyone you don’t know and trust, and never click on links in emails or text messages from people you don’t know.

Being scam aware is the best way to protect yourself from becoming a victim.

Check if something might be a scam

Scams can be difficult to recognise, but there are things you can look out for.

It might be a scam if:

  • it seems too good to be true – for example, a holiday that’s much cheaper than you’d expect
  • someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly
  • you suspect you’re not dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address
  • you’ve been asked to transfer money quickly
  • you’ve been asked to pay in an unusual way – for example, by iTunes vouchers or through a transfer service like MoneyGram or Western Union
  • you’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs
  • you haven’t had written confirmation of what’s been agreed

Check if you can get your money back after a scam

You might be able to get your money back after you’ve been scammed.

What you should do, and whether you’ll get a refund, depends on what happened.

What to do if you’ve been scammed

If you’ve been scammed, you need to:

  • protect yourself from further risks
  • check if you can get your money back
  • report the scam

Report a scam

If you’ve been scammed, there are organisations you should report the scam to.

Don’t feel embarrassed about reporting a scam – scammers are clever and scams can happen to anyone.

Reporting a scam helps track down and stop scammers. This prevents other people from being scammed.

You should:

  • protect yourself from further risks
  • gather all the details of the scam
  • report the scam to us
  • report the scam to other organisations

Get emotional support if you’ve been scammed

If you’re stressed or worried because of a scam, you can talk to someone from these organisations.

  • Victim Support
  • The Samaritans
  • Age UK

Get help with online scams

You can contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline if you:

  • think you might have found a scam
  • need advice about scams
  • want to report a scam

We’ll let you know what to do next, and give you support on the issues you might be facing.

Before you report a scam to us, you should first check our advice on reporting a scam.

If you are unable to find the help/advice that you require in the above article(s) then the next quickest way to get help is by filling in the following Advice form. By taking the time to enter all the information it will help us to help you quicker than if you just call us.

Please check the areas where we can offer support and read the Client Agreement between you and Citizens Advice Rural Cambs before contacting us for help/advice, thank you.

Where we offer help
Read Client Agreement


    Please note that we are only able to offer support to people who live in the coloured area indicated in the map below. If you live outside this area please visit the National Citizens Advice website for help, thank you.

    CARC coverage map

    About You

    Date of Birth (required)

    Using your Information

    To comply with the Data Protection Act (1998) we must ask for your permission before we record, store, share and process your data. These details may include personal and sensitive information.

    Therefore we would be grateful if you could read and tick the permissions you are happy to provide to us to allow us to improve, monitor and evaluate our services



    What are you worried about?




    Details of this issue

    Details of this issue

    Details of this issue

    Details of this issue

    Are you:

    Details of this issue


    Details of this issue

    Details of this issue

    Details of this issue

    If you have a tenancy:




    Housing benefit:

    or

    Details of this issue

    Details of this issue

    Please enter other other other other other problems here, not

    How can we help?

    Follow up feedback

    We want to make sure the service you receive meets your needs. To help us understand this and improve our service, Citizens Advice may want to contact you at a later date to ask for your feedback. We will only share the information that is absolutely necessary.


    If so, can we contact you by:

    Legal Protection

    Please note that we aim to respond within 3 working days.


    If you have a simple query you can contact us via Chat.

    Note this is only available when our staff are not all busy responding to requests for help submitted via forms or over the telephone.

    If it is available you will see a chat link in the bottom corner of the website.

    If you have a simple query but are unable to contact us via Chat (if it is available you will see a chat link in the bottom corner of the website) then please consider using the national Citizens Advice Chat facility.

    This is open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm: click here to Chat with them.

    If you need urgent help please call our Adviceline. Please note that our advisers are very busy, so if you are able to submit an advice form it would help us to offer the best possible service to all our customers.

    Our Adviceline service is open from 9:30 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon, Monday to Friday.

    Call 0808 278 7807 (free)