During the period between December 2022 and January 2024, 5,412 reports of fraud were made to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. According to PSNI figures these reports resulted in total losses of around £23.1 million.

No matter the amount, behind each loss is someone or a business owner who has been taken advantage of. The impact is devastating….

Scammers are always looking for new ways to catch you out. Scams have become increasingly sophisticated and harder to spot, particularly when the scammers target people online and through mobile devices. If you know what to look out for, you can help to keep yourself safe.

Scams can come in many forms, but all are designed to get hold of your money. They can do this by getting you to reveal your personal details, stealing your information, or even getting you to willingly hand over the cash. The key is knowing how to recognise a scam, protect yourself and what to do if you think you’ve been targeted or have fallen victim.

The attached guide will help you to protect yourself against scams and also provides important information about what to do if you're a victim or have been targeted by a scammer.