Scams are now often sent in email or text massage form. On the left there is an example of a scam email there are a few red flags that you should look out for in every email.

• If the email address of the company does not match up to previous email address do not reply to the email
• Never use a link in an email to access online banking or to verify your personal details
• Do not trust emails or companies that you have not heard from before

Scams usually target money but they can also affect a person’s relationships, self-confidence, online security and privacy.

The best way to avoid scams is to be suspicious.

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 the sender’s email address carefully