Action Fraud has some useful information for individuals to protect themselves from fraud - and how to report the many kinds perpetrated by post, phone, email or online advertising that offer deals. If they seem to good to be true - they probably are and should be avoided.
Click on this link for advice and information from Essex Police about fraudulent activities generally.
Latest scam updates from Which?
5 steps to prevent Sim-swap fraud
- Secure your mobile account Ask your network provider about any additional security, for example, you may be able to set up a unique Pin or password, which must be provided to approve any account changes in store or via the phone.
- Turn on 2FA Email, social media and other online accounts can be secured with multi or two-factor authentication – check 2fa.directory/gb for a list. Avoid SMS-based checks if you can (although they're still better than no 2FA at all). We prefer passkeys (supported by Apple, Google, Microsoft and Samsung) as they're tied to a physical device rather than your phone number.
- Clean up your online profile Restrict who can see your social media profiles and avoid sharing details such as your date of birth and phone number, or answers to common security questions such as the name of your first pet or school.
- Recognise the signs and act -Call your network immediately if you receive an unexpected message about your Sim being ported or a PAC request, or you unexpectedly lose service.
- Tell your banks Warn any financial organisations so that they can freeze your accounts and keep a close eye on your bank statements, email and social media accounts for unusual activity. Change your passwords and disable SMS as an authentication method, where possible.
2026 - next 6 months
JANUARY
Why cancelling your card might not stop fraud Which? explains how it can occur and what you can do to protect yourself
How to avoid identify theft Which? explains what identity theft is and how to reduce the risk
Beware of Amazon 'one-time passcode scams Which? explains how it works and how you can spot, avoid and report it
3 phone scams to be aware of Which? gives details of biggest phone scams and how to avoid entrapment
5 holiday rental rip-offs to watch out for Which? gives 5 examples from fake listings to double bookings
Screen calls and avoid scams Which? shows you how to use call screening features to fight scam calls on Androids or iPhones and even has tips for landlines
If you're getting rid of an old Windows 10 computer you need to make sure you have completely wiped your data Which? tells you how
Password reset emails: how to tell they are genuine Which? explains how to deal with emails like these whether they are genuine or fraudulent
Dubious ads on biggest free news sites Which? investigation reveals potential scam ads on sites such as Daily Mail, Yahoo and Google News app and also tips on how to spot one
Best anti-scam tools from banks Which? examines the best ones and which banks are offering them
Spot the signs of a fake retailer Which? alerts you to the red flags
Scam ads appearing on trusted websites Which? investigated several suspicious adverts ranging from outright scams to misleading products and fake videos
FEBRUARY
Beware of AI voice cloning scams Which? explains what they are and how to protect yourself
Amazon product recall scam Which? alerts you to a new so-called safety recall scam and explains the genuine process plus your rights
4 energy scams to look out for Which? adds the details: cold calls, sham-energy saving devices, mis-sold energy panel claims and fake energy supplier emails
5 signs of a romance scam Which? explains how they operate to build a connection with potential victims
How to avoid AI scams Which? shows you how to avoid this new tactic
How to spot a WhatsApp scam Which? shows what to watch out for with 6 examples
App Store scam warning Which? flags a disturbing development on Apple's site and describes the checks you should do before downloading any to your device
Don't get conned on Booking.com Which? cites a customer who was conned with a fraudulent holiday booking and wasn't refunded for 7 months until Which? intervened
What to do if you accidentally click a scam link Which? gives practical steps you take if you do and any warning signs your device may have been compromised
Keep your email safe from hackers Which? explains how to recover your email inbox and how to prevent it from happening again
What are brushing scams? Which? explains what they are and what to do if you receive an unexpected suspicious parcel
MARCH
Scammers impersonating the police and others Which? lists all the trending scams
Watch out for fake websites including Tesco, Boots and Amazon Which? has collected examples to help you spot a copycat site
Scareware look out for these popups Which? explains what they are and the steps to take if you experience this
The banks least likely to refund scam victims Which? shows the banks least likely to refund scam victims and the the firms with the weakest fraud controls
Social media deepfake scams return Which? shows the latest examples and tells you how to spot a deepfake video
New fraud protections you should know about Which? lists the ways the government's new fraud strategy will help protect people and also tips for avoiding being ensnared
How to stay safe against identity theft Which? explains how it's done and lists 6 ways you can keep your data safe
Three travel scams to watch out for Which? advises you to read their latest article, because of travel disruption due to Middle East war, before you book your next holiday
Conned by a fake Virgin Atlantic advert on a search engine Which? explains how scammers exploit search ads and what happened to an unfortunate tourist
Free tools to stop scammers Which? explains how to use 7 free tools
10 things every smartphone owner should do now Which? has a comprehensive list and instructions to keep your date safe
How to use public wi-fi safely Which? explains how to safely use public wi-fi
APRIL
Fake British Gas call and other energy scams Which? uncovers the latest energy scams and how to avoid them
How to spot tax scams Which? explains that with the tax year ending on April 5 there is an increase in HMRC scam activity
Spotting fake or fraudulent websites Which? lists ways to assess whether a website is genuine or not, especially after a rise in sites impersonating WhatsApp
Latest scams Which? lists the latest scams you should be aware of
What I learned as a scambaiter Which? explains what it is and why you shouldn't try it at home
Don't become a victim of identity fraud Which? advises how to navigate the experience of one person whose name and email address were used to open accounts and purchase items in the USA.
The truth about car park cameras Which? explains why people are getting unwarranted parking fines and links to template challenge letters
PayPal 1p deposit scam warning Which? tells you what to do if you receive an email like this supposedly from PayPal
Booking.com data breach: what you need to know Which? has repeatedly highlighted the lack of robust safeguards on Booking.com
5 tips to avoid ticket scams Which? tells you how to spot ticket scams and the best safest places to buy them from
MAY
Save these tools for later Which? Facebook community share their favourite tools for spotting scams
Bank impersonation scams: how to stay safe Which? shares a case of how one example of a banking scam works
Latest scam warnings Which? features a TV licence scam email, dubious car finance text and fake messages from Apple from a full list of the latest trends
Get ahead of the pension scammers Which? shares how the new rules regarding Inheritance Tax on pensions could lead to scams and four pension scam warning signs to watch out for
Delivery scam text message warning Which? is particularly concerned about delivery scam messages claiming to be from couriers and tells you how to spot and avoid scam texts
How to report a scam Which? gives guidance on how to report a scam whether successful or not
Control who sees your data Which? describes how signing in with Google or Apple might be convenient but also leaves you more exposed to scams over time
What not to click Which? Tech editor reveals links, text messages and websites she'd never click on from fake delivery texts to dangerous QR codes
How to avoid a bogus boutique Which? investigates dubious shops and explains how to avoid getting conned.
This month's trending scams Which? gives a full list and features scams about free wifi boosters and messages claiming to be from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Fraudsters posing as fake customer service agents Which? warn against relying on fraudsters posing as customer service agents
JUNE
Test your knowledge Which? gives you a quiz to test how scam savvy you are
Watch out for bogus holiday adverts Which? has found fake adverts impersonating genuine businesses informing you how to avoid holiday disappointment.
Recovering forgotten crypto Which? explains why any form of contact saying you've built up Bitcoin wealth and offering help to recover it is almost always a scam
Latest full list of trending scams Which? features a Netflix scam email and Argos account hacking
Weight loss patch scams Which? reveals dubious weight loss ads and tells you what to look out for
Minecraft hacking warning Which? tells parents and grandparents about this scam and how to remove the nasty malware resulting in malware infecting devices and some cases of cyberbullying after webcams are taken over.
2026 -next 6 months
JULY
Beware of holiday scams fuelled by social media Which? advises on 5 simple steps to check your dream holiday really exists
Spotting text message scams Which? features Evri scam texts have spiked but these messages can come from any organisation and tells you how to avoid being conned.
How scam refund rules are helping cut fraud losses Which? tells you what you need to know