Scam safety guides
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Where Scams Start: What FTC Data for 2025 Shows About Social Media as the Top Scam Contact Method in the United States
FTC data shows US scam losses that began on social media reached $2.1 billion in 2025. What the numbers cover, which scams dominate and how to reduce your exposure.
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Car Finance Compensation Scams and Claims Firms: What the FCA Says About Fake Callers, Fees and Checking Your Lender
Scammers pose as car finance lenders promising compensation. What the FCA says about fake calls, claims-firm fees of up to 36% and checking your lender.
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Fake IRS Calls, Emails and Texts in the United States: How the IRS Says It Makes Contact and How to Report Impersonators
How the US Internal Revenue Service says it contacts taxpayers, the warning signs of tax impersonation scams and how to report fake IRS emails, texts and calls.
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When Your Bank Refuses to Reimburse a Scam: Complaining to the Firm and Then the Financial Ombudsman Service
If a bank or payment firm will not refund a scam payment, how to complain, the 15-day and 35-day response times, the 6-month deadline and what the Ombudsman looks at.
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Crypto ATM Scams: What FTC Data Shows for the US and Why the FCA Says Crypto ATMs in the UK Are Illegal
Scammers tell victims to feed cash into Bitcoin ATMs. What FTC data shows for the US, why the FCA says UK crypto ATMs are illegal, and the red flags to know.
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Bogus and Cloned Solicitors in England and Wales: How to Check a Law Firm Before You Instruct or Pay
How bogus and cloned solicitors operate, what the SRA says about checking the Solicitors Register and contact details, the offences involved, and where to report.
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UK Visa and Immigration Scams: Fake Home Office Contact, Job Offers and Agents, and What GOV.UK Says About Payment
How visa and immigration scams work according to the Home Office: fake officers, job offers, agents and websites, the payments it never asks for, and where to report.
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If You Paid a Scammer in the United States: FTC Steps by Payment Method and Where to Report
What the FTC advises after a scam payment in the United States, from Zelle and cards to gift cards, crypto and cash, and where to report to the FTC and IC3.
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Companies House Scams: Fake Calls, Emails and Identity Verification Messages Aimed at Company Directors
How scammers impersonate Companies House by phone and email, what the register operator says it will never ask for, and how to protect a company and your identity.
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Confirmation of Payee: What the Bank Name Check Tells You and Why a “No Match” Should Make You Stop
How the UK’s Confirmation of Payee name check works on bank transfers, what match, close match and no match mean, and the limits of the check against scams.