Four ways to avoid being scammed

Do you think you're too smart to fall for a scam? Well one in eleven of us has, according to the Office of Fair Trading. Here are four ways to avoid becoming a victim.

I'm planning to make several million pounds today.

All I have to do is give my bank details to a Nigerian heiress who needs help getting a small fortune out of the country, confirm my bank details with HM Revenue & Customs so they can give me a rebate, and give my bank details to a company who says I've won a lesser-known European lottery. Easy.

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Ruth Jackson-Kirby

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings accounts and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.

Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.

Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping, among many other titles both online and offline.