As more people feel the desperate pinch of the cost-of-living crisis, scammers are looking for new ways to take advantage of them.

New research from Citizens Advice show more than three quarters of UK adults have been targeted by a scammer this year, a 14 per cent increase from last year.

Scammers are using tailored tactics targetting everybody, not just the vulnerable. One of the cost-of-living scams flagged to Citizens Advice is an email from someone claiming to work for Ofgem asking people to enter their bank details to get the £400 energy rebate, or claiming the government is giving £200,000 out at random to those who are of pension age, disabled or on a low income.

Suzanne Wigmore, CEO of Wiltshire Citizens Advice, describes scams as a "common but sometimes hidden problem". She said: "Scams can affect anyone, at any age, and happen online or in person. Lots of us are facing higher bills and worrying about money, and scammers are trying to take advantage of this.

"It's always good advice to be suspicious of anyone who contacts you out of the blue, do some backgrounds checks especially if you are buying online and if you think you have been scammed report it!"

The top three most common scams reported include deliveries, postal or courier services (55 per cent), someone pretending to be from the government or HMRC (41 per cent) and someone offering a fake investment scheme (29 per cent).

Saying "no" can be difficult, even if the victim becomes suspicious. The Little Book of Big Scams recommend mentioning authorisation and unwillingness to make a decision without speaking to someone about it first as effective ways of combating a scammer.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “We would urge everyone to be aware of the sophisticated ways that scammers and fraudsters will try to make contact with people in a bid to defraud them out of money.

“We would also encourage people to speak to friends or family members who may be vulnerable to scams, and ensure they are regularly reminded of the simple steps they can take to keep safe."

For more advice about protecting yourself from scams, visit the Action Fraud website.

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