Identity Theft - Online Scams

There's an old saying that 'there's no such thing as a free lunch'. If you receive an email saying you have won a holiday, car, trip to a show or anything that you have not entered a competition for, and which is totally unexpected, then be wary. You don't get anything for nothing.

The scam usually works by getting you to divulge your credit card information to pay for a claims fee, or shipping costs or to make any other payment to conclude the transfer of the 'free' gift to you. If you do make a payment you won't receive any free gift, and your credit card information will be used without your knowledge to make a series of purchases online. You will become yet another identity theft victim.

These scams can be received through the mail and by telephone as well, so be wary of anything offered to you as being 'free' or which says you are a 'winner' but which requires you to make a payment to complete.