Scams And Rip Offs archive

Scams And Rip Offs Archive

Published in December 2011

Seven things to ditch in 2012

by lovemoney staff | If you don’t want to get ripped-off in the New Year, make sure you get rid of these seven products.

Divorce: Your rights to your money

by Christina Jordan | How do you unravel your finances if you get divorced?

5 tricks you mustn’t fall for in the January sales

by Robert Powell | Make sure your year doesn’t get off to a bad start by steering clear of these sneaky shopping tricks...

by Neil Faulkner | In 2011, there were some costly scams against investors, some rip-offs for users of public services, and some downright, brazen and disgusting theft from elderly and vulnerable people.

Don’t be a Christmas scam victim

by Neil Faulkner | 330,000 people become scam victims over this Christmas period, at a cost of £850 each. Don’t be one of them.

New online ID fraud threat that will wreck your Christmas

by Robert Powell | ID fraud is a big problem this time of year – especially when so many of us are looking online to pick up a Christmas bargain. Here’s how to make sure you don’t get stung...

The top eight biggest Christmas cons!

by Cliff D'Arcy | As Christmas approaches and consumer spending becomes a whirlwind, we reveal the eight biggest ways to get taken for a ride -- but not in Santa's sleigh...

Watch out for this Christmas gift shopping rip-off!

by Emma Lunn | Beware this rip-off when doing your Christmas gift shopping!

Supermarket scams to watch out for at Xmas

by Robert Powell | If you’re planning to hit the supermarkets soon to stock up for Christmas, here are five scams you need to make sure you don’t fall for...

Most expensive New Year's Eve parties in the world

by Rosalind Kent | Fancy splashing out on New Year’s Eve celebrations this year? Look no further for inspiration ...

Know your online shopping rights and get consumer protection

by Jane Baker | Did you know online shopping gives you extra consumer protection? Find out how...

Watch out for this Amazon scam!

by Robert Powell | A phishing scam targeting Amazon customers is doing the rounds - find out how to avoid becoming a victim...

The worst Christmas gifts rip-off... ever!

by Donna Ferguson | Find out why it's not a good idea to use a credit card from a shop to buy Christmas gifts.

Beware these scams at Christmas

by Christine Whitfield | It pays to be aware of these scams at Christmas...

Beware this phishing scam at Christmas

by Mark Adams | If you're shopping online this Christmas, watch out for this costly phishing scam...

Published in November 2011

This year’s biggest Christmas rip-offs

by Rosalind Kent | ‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it can be hard to smile when your bank account is under threat over the Christmas period.

Free trials are a massive rip-off

by Cliff D'Arcy | Can you believe we waste £250 million a year on supposedly 'free' tryouts? Oops.

Government failing to protect us from scams

by Robert Powell | Consumer protection is failing to keep up with wide scale online scams, as Robert Powell reports...

Published in October 2011

The top ten scariest scams!

by Cliff D'Arcy | It’s Halloween tonight, so here are ten frightening financial fiddles to make your blood run cold!

The little rip-offs we all hate!

by Cliff D'Arcy | Every day and in every way, companies pick our pockets. Here are 10 ways they can fleece us.

Don’t let a ‘refund’ leave you out of pocket

by Henri May | Watch out for the increasing trend of shops to charge ‘restocking fees’ which could leave you out of pocket.

Scary new banking scams

by John Fitzsimons | Scammers have developed a new way to control your computer remotely. And that can only be bad news for your bank balance.

I can crack your PINs and passwords!

by Cliff D'Arcy | Many of us stick to predictable passwords and PINs, and so fail to adequately protect our cash!

The sick traders targeting your Gran

by John Fitzsimons | No-one's safe from these devious traders, who are happy to take advantage of the old and infirm to make a quick buck.

Published in September 2011

Avoid this sneaky gym membership trap

by Rosalind Kent | Trying to cancel an unwanted gym membership might not be as simple as you think.

Avoid these scammer loan companies

by Robert Powell | Robert Powell takes a look at a loan scam that’s doing the rounds again and explains what you can do to avoid becoming a victim...

Beware of the Jobcentre

by Rosalind Kent | Watch out for these bogus job scams!

Published in August 2011

Four sneaky catches to avoid!

by Serena Cowdy | We highlight the misleading financial wheezes that could cost you dear.

Dodge these rip-off parking fees

by Serena Cowdy | We show you how to fight back against horrendously high parking fees.

Watch out for this eBay scam!

by Rosalind Kent | Avoid this terrible eBay scam!

It's official: Ryanair misleads customers

by John Fitzsimons | Ryanair is the latest firm to get caught out for misleading customers. But do the authorities do enough to clamp down on such practices?

Newspaper readers’ data stolen

by Robert Powell | Robert Powell reports on the recent hacking of the Sun newspaper website and looks at what you can do to protect yourself from cyber-crime...

Published in July 2011

Three big banking wheezes to avoid!

by Serena Cowdy | We highlight some bad banking practice you need to watch out for.

The secret way Google costs you money

by Donna Ferguson | What’s a Google filter bubble and how does it trap you? Donna Ferguson examines the secret way your searches could be costing you money.

Finding a lawyer to be as easy as buying baked beans

by Andrew Morgan | New rules on the provision of legal services mean that we’ll all soon have much greater choice when expert advice is needed.

3p per £1 goes to fraudsters

by Neil Faulkner | With £21bn of our money being taken by tax, benefit, TV licence and NHS fraudsters every year, let's see what the government is going to do about it.

UK underequipped to deal with scammers

by John Fitzsimons | A damning new report says that the authorities are failing to keep on top of scammers. It’s up to us to stay vigilant!

Published in June 2011

Beware this property swindle!

by Cliff D'Arcy | Tens of thousands of people have been conned by this simple scam.

MPs concerned by payday loans

by Emma Lunn | This is one way to borrow you really want to avoid...

Eight ways to spot a scam ticket website

by Rachel Wait | If you’re hoping to buy tickets for an event this summer, here’s how to ensure the website you use isn’t a fake.

Don't lose out when businesses die!

by Cliff D'Arcy | We explain how to avoid losing out when companies crash and firms fold.

Cold callers face crackdown

by Cliff D'Arcy | As the regulator clamps down on firms making unwanted calls, here's how to fight back.

Beware this loan scam!

by Cliff D'Arcy | The Office of Fair Trading is cracking down on upfront fees for loans.

The banks you can’t trust!

by Rachel Wait | We reveal which banks have been a little too irresponsible with your financial details...

Published in May 2011

Eight financial super-injunctions

by Robert Powell | Robert Powell reveals eight secrets that companies really don’t want you to know...

The big 118 rip-off

by Rachel Wait | If you regularly call 118 directory enquiry services, you could be forking out far more than you thought...

The Olympics ticket shambles

by Robert Powell | London 2012 organisers will begin debiting accounts for Olympics tickets next week. But if you have applied for tickets, don’t expect any warning before your card is charged....

£9bn of PPI compensation up for grabs!

by Cliff D'Arcy | Having abandoned their legal fight against rip-off insurance, banks must pay out billions.

Four ways technology invades your privacy

by Robert Powell | Robert Powell looks at four ways technology spies on you...

The top ten online scams

by Rachel Wait | If you’re a regular user of the internet, don’t get caught out by these ten online scams...

Avoid this Bin Laden death video scam

by Robert Powell | A new online scam is doing the rounds after the death of the al-Qaeda leader in Pakistan last week...

Don't get ripped off ever again!

by Rachel Wait | In a world where everyone is after your money, it’s easy to pay out more than you need to. Here’s how to avoid getting ripped-off ever again!

Avoid this sneaky rip-off

by Rosalind Kent | The Office of Fair Trading has launched an investigation into extended warranties - are they really worth the paper they're written on?

14 ways to protect your privacy

by Rachel Wait | With more and more threats to our personal data, we take a look at how you can fight back and protect yourself...

This scam will ruin your summer

by Rachel Wait | If you’re planning to book tickets to a concert or festival over the coming weeks or months, make sure you don’t get caught out by this scam...

Published in April 2011

Seven ridiculous wedding expenses

by Rachel Wait | If you’re getting married this year, watch out for these top rip-offs!

The top ten UK fraud hotspots

by Rachel Wait | We reveal which areas are the worst for identity fraud and how to protect yourself...

Watch out for PlayStation fraud!

by Cliff D'Arcy | As hackers steal 77 million gamers' personal details, we explain how to avoid this robbery.

Reclaim thousands after PPI court ruling

by Robert Powell | The banks have lost a High Court judicial review concerning the mis-selling of Payment Protection Insurance. This victory for consumers could enable you to reclaim thousands....

Not just any scam – this is an M&S scam

by Rosalind Kent | Scams come in all shapes and sizes, but the latest has targeted shoppers at places like Marks & Spencer.

10 ways you didn't know your identity was at risk

by Rachel Wait | ID fraud is a growing problem. So make sure you stay safe...

How to make a Super Complaint

by Rosalind Kent | What's a Super Complaint and how do you make one? Rosalind Kent finds out.

Published in March 2011

John Lewis offers never-ending refund

by Cliff D'Arcy | The popular department store has scrapped its 28-day refund policy in favour of unlimited returns!

Five sneaky online sales tricks

by Robert Powell | A group-selling site has been slammed by the OFT after promoting cut-price iPhones to thousands of people when it only had eight available. Robert Powell takes a closer at this, and four other online sales tricks...

Watch out for this Google scam

by Rachel Wait | There’s a new scam doing the rounds – this time involving Google.

The scam that could ruin the Olympic Games!

by Rachel Wait | Don't get sucked in by fraudsters trying to sell you fake tickets for the Olympic Games.

I fell in love with a scammer!

by Robert Powell | Robert Powell takes a look at how an internet romance can quickly turn into costly scam...

Watch out for these cold-calling rip-offs

by Serena Cowdy | Serena Cowdy explains how to avoid the five worst cold-calling rip-offs.

The sneaky online ticket rip-off

by Rosalind Kent | With festival season just around the corner, what are your chances of getting a ticket?

What to do when ATMs give you the wrong money

by Cliff D'Arcy | We explain your rights if an ATM gives you too much or too little cash.

Suss out these sneaky small print scams

by Robert Powell | Make sure you don’t get caught out by hidden terms and conditions that cunning companies sneak into the small print of contracts!

The truth about small print

by Robert Powell | Robert Powell hits the streets to find out what you think about small print...

The truth about small print

by Robert Powell | Robert Powell hits the streets to find out what you think about small print

Published in February 2011

The cash for gold sham

by John Fitzsimons | The OFT has cracked down on the dodgy practices of five gold-buying firms.

The four worst car scams

by Rachel Wait | Don’t get caught out by these sneaky car scams...

Say goodbye to sneaky card charges

by John Fitzsimons | We may be seeing the last of unfair booking fees.

The new tax refund scam

by John Fitzsimons | A new phishing scam is taking advantage of stretched budgets.

How safe is your pension?

by Jane Baker | Savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, but what about pensions, insurance policies and investments? What happens if your provider collapses?

The seven sneakiest secret financial tricks

by Rachel Wait | Make sure you don’t get caught out by these seven sneaky financial tricks...

Watch out for this council tax scam

by Rachel Wait | A new scam is doing the rounds. Here’s what you need to know.

Five tips to protect yourself from ATM fraud

by Donna Ferguson | Card skimming scammers are becoming increasingly clever. Here's how to protect yourself from ATM fraud.

The nine worst scams of 2010

by Robert Powell | Robert Powell looks at the nine worst scams of the past year and shows you how to avoid them...

Revealed: Britain’s card fraud capital!

by Robert Powell | Robert Powell takes a look at Britain’s card fraud hotspots and finds out how you can avoid becoming a victim of this increasingly common crime...

The six biggest car hire rip-offs

by Rachel Wait | Off on holiday and planning to hire a car? Watch out for these six rip-offs...