Recognising scams without blaming yourself

Notice what the message wants you to do

A scam can arrive as a delivery notice, job offer, marketplace message, scholarship opportunity or urgent request from a friend. The design may look professional and the sender may know your name. Rather than judging only the appearance, ask what action it is pushing: click, pay, transfer, share a code or move the conversation elsewhere.

Pressure is a useful warning sign. A message may claim that your account will close, an offer will expire or a friend is in trouble. You are allowed to pause. A real problem is usually easier to resolve after an independent check than after you have rushed to provide information to an unknown sender.

Verify through a route you choose

If a bank message concerns you, open the bank's official app or find its number independently. Do not rely on contact details inside the suspicious message. If a friend asks for money, contact them using an existing number or another established method. A familiar profile photo does not prove who is controlling the account.

For a job offer, look for a real organisation, a clear role and a normal recruitment process. Be wary of requests to pay upfront to receive work, move money for someone else or provide extensive identity documents before you understand who is collecting them. Ask a trusted adult or careers adviser to review anything unclear.

Spot a scam that impersonates customer support

When you post publicly about a missing parcel or locked account, someone may reply pretending to work for the company. They might move you to a private chat and ask for account information or a code. Use the company's official support area instead of the responder's link. You can delete a public post that exposes an order reference or contact detail, but check with the genuine company if you have already shared sensitive information.

Slow down marketplace transactions

Check the seller's history, product details and payment arrangements. Very low prices and pressure to leave a platform's messaging or payment system deserve extra scrutiny. Fake buyers can also target sellers with invented courier charges or claims that an account must be upgraded before payment can arrive.

Do not treat a screenshot of a transfer as proof that money has reached your account. Check through your own banking service. Avoid handing over goods or refunding an alleged overpayment because a buyer is impatient. If a transaction becomes confusing, stop and clarify it before taking another step. Confusion can be deliberately created.

Act quickly after a mistake

If you shared banking details or sent money, contact your bank immediately using a verified channel. Explain what happened plainly, including whether you gave access codes or installed software. Follow its instructions about cards, accounts and transactions. If an account password was exposed, change it from a trusted device and secure any other account using the same password.

Report the scam through Scamwatch and use the official cyber security guidance for recovery steps. Keep relevant messages, transaction records and website details. Be cautious of people who contact you afterwards claiming they can recover funds for a fee. A second scam can target someone who is already worried about the first.

Make it easier to ask for help

Shame delays useful action. Scams are designed to exploit ordinary human responses such as trust, fear, excitement and the wish to solve a problem quickly. Telling someone early gives you more support and may help limit further damage, even when recovery is uncertain.

If a friend has been scammed, avoid asking how they could fall for it. Help them identify the next official contact, write a timeline or sit with them while they call the bank. Afterwards, agree on one practical habit, such as independently checking unexpected payment requests. Being careful does not mean being suspicious of everyone. It means giving important decisions a reliable checking step.