With nearly 400,000 incidents of advance fee fraud reported each year, it is imperative to recognise the signs of these scams and exercise caution when pursuing goods or services online.
What is an Advance Fee Scam?
Advance Fee scams – where a person is persuaded to pay an upfront free or deposit – are becoming more common and pose a huge threat to those looking for goods or services online. These scams operate on the premise of convincing victims to pay an upfront fee in exchange for promised rewards, holidays or services that do not materialise.
Furthermore, even those who are not necessarily seeking goods or services can fall victim to advance fee fraud, as scammers often target unsuspecting internet users with enticing offers such as gold, jewellery, or overseas lotteries.
CEL Solicitors recently recovered £17,000 from an advance fee scam, where our client was falsely promised landscaping services to his property. Read more here.
How to Protect Yourself from an Advance Fee Scam
Exercise caution with upfront payments
- Be wary of requests for upfront payments for goods or services you have not solicited.
- Scrutinise any demands for large payments before receiving promised rewards or services.
Stay skeptical of unexpected ‘wins’
- Be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true.
- If you are told that you have won a competition or lottery draw that you did not enter, treat it with skepticism, particularly where there are upfront fees.
Remain vigilant on social media
- Advance fee scams often begin on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, where fraudsters will advertise non-existent services or job opportunities.
Verify accounts and email addresses
- Verify the legitimacy of email addresses, ensuring that a business address is used rather than a generic one such as Gmail or Yahoo.
- Look out for subtle variations or inconsistencies in email addresses as this may indicate fraudulent activity.
If you have lost money to an advance fee scam, you may be able to recover your money. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning that you have nothing to lose. Speak with our team today by calling 0808 273 0900 or complete an online form.
