ALMOST three quarters of people in Tameside have been targeted by scam attempts this year as the cost-of-living crisis takes hold.
As fuel bills and energy costs rocket research by Citizens Advice Tameside has found 73 per cent of residents have found themselves prayed on by someone looking to extort money.
The five most common types of scam reported in the borough include deliveries, portal and courier services, Government or HMRC-related, investment or financial, online shopping and banking.
And the results have sent shudders down the spine of those behind an annual awareness campaign.
Susan Riley, Chief Officer of Citizens Advice Tameside, said: “A shocking number of people in Tameside have been targeted by a scammer so far this year.
“We know scammers prey on our worries and fears, sadly the cost-of-living crisis is no exception.
“Anyone can be targeted by a scam, and as the purse strings are tightened and financial pressures pile on, it’s important we work together to protect ourselves and each other.”
To stop more people from falling victim to these types of scams, Citizens Advice Tameside shared five top tips to help.
These include ‘it seems too good to be true,’ taking a moment to step back and double-check who you are dealing with, being pressured to transfer money quickly, paying in an unusual way and being asked to give away personal information such as passwords, PINs or other verification codes.