The prize, of course, does not exist.

MATRIX SCHEMES Often promoted online these schemes mainly involve websites which offering high cost electrical and electronic devices as free gifts in return for buying a relatively cheap product - for example a mobile phone charger. Consumers who buy the cheap product (take the bait) are then put onto a waiting list to receive their free gift.

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In 2005 the UK's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) launched a campaign in order to raise awareness of the most common ways in which people are conned. The OFT identified the top ten scams targeted at UK consumers.

These are listed below and, if you look through them, you will see some patterns emerging. It should help you avoid being scammed - online or offline.

WORK-AT-HOME SCAMS Advertisements for paid work-from-home schemes and business opportunities are often scams. Would be home workers who apply are asked for money up-front to pay for materials. After payment no more is heard from the parent company.

Another variation on this is where the company does actually send out some materials for assembly. These materials are usually very inexpensive. When the assembled products are submitted they are invariably rejected as they "do not meet the necessary quality standards". This method also gives the scammers a second bite at the cherry as they often sell a further kit with instructions for the necessar quality improvements to ensure acceptance in future. Regardless of how good the quality is, the assembled items will never be accepted.

TELEPHONE LOTTERY SCAMS Scammers impersonate representatives from a genuine lottery, such as the Irish Lottery or the Canadian Lottery. They make unsolicited telephone calls to their victims and advise them that they are going to be entered in a draw.

A few days later the victim receives another call to advise them that they have won a substantial amount of money. However, before they can receive their prize the victim must pay a fee for administration and taxes. The prize, of course, does not exist.

MATRIX SCHEMES Often promoted online these schemes mainly involve websites which offering high cost electrical and electronic devices as free gifts in return for buying a relatively cheap product - for example a mobile phone charger. Consumers who buy the cheap product (take the bait) are then put onto a waiting list to receive their free gift.

The pe

nts for paid work-from-home schemes and business opportunities are often scams. Would be home workers who apply are asked for money up-front to pay for materials. After payment no more is heard from the parent company.

Another variation on this is where the company does actually send out some materials for assembly. These materials are usually very inexpensive. When the assembled products are submitted they are invariably rejected as they "do not meet the necessary quality standards". This method also gives the scammers a second bite at the cherry as they often sell a further kit with instructions for the necessar quality improvements to ensure acceptance in future. Regardless of how good the quality is, the assembled items will never be accepted.

TELEPHONE LOTTERY SCAMS Scammers impersonate representatives from a genuine lottery, such as the Irish Lottery or the Canadian Lottery. They make unsolicited telephone calls to their victims and advise them that they are going to be entered in a draw.

A few days later the victim receives another call to advise them that they have won a substantial amount of money. However, before they can receive their prize the victim must pay a fee for administration and taxes. The prize, of course, does not exist.

MATRIX SCHEMES Often promoted online these schemes mainly involve websites which offering high cost electrical and electronic devices as free gifts in return for buying a relatively cheap product - for example a mobile phone charger. Consumers who buy the cheap product (take the bait) are then put onto a waiting list to receive their free gift.

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invariably rejected as they "do not meet the necessary quality standards". This method also gives the scammers a second bite at the cherry as they often sell a further kit with instructions for the necessar quality improvements to ensure acceptance in future. Regardless of how good the quality is, the assembled items will never be accepted.

TELEPHONE LOTTERY SCAMS Scammers impersonate representatives from a genuine lottery, such as the Irish Lottery or the Canadian Lottery. They make unsolicited telephone calls to their victims and advise them that they are going to be entered in a draw.

A few days later the victim receives another call to advise them that they have won a substantial amount of money. However, before they can receive their prize the victim must pay a fee for administration and taxes. The prize, of course, does not exist.

MATRIX SCHEMES Often promoted online these schemes mainly involve websites which offering high cost electrical and electronic devices as free gifts in return for buying a relatively cheap product - for example a mobile phone charger. Consumers who buy the cheap product (take the bait) are then put onto a waiting list to receive their free gift.

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tatives from a genuine lottery, such as the Irish Lottery or the Canadian Lottery. They make unsolicited telephone calls to their victims and advise them that they are going to be entered in a draw.

A few days later the victim receives another call to advise them that they have won a substantial amount of money. However, before they can receive their prize the victim must pay a fee for administration and taxes. The prize, of course, does not exist.

MATRIX SCHEMES Often promoted online these schemes mainly involve websites which offering high cost electrical and electronic devices as free gifts in return for buying a relatively cheap product - for example a mobile phone charger. Consumers who buy the cheap product (take the bait) are then put onto a waiting list to receive their free gift.

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The prize, of course, does not exist.

MATRIX SCHEMES Often promoted online these schemes mainly involve websites which offering high cost electrical and electronic devices as free gifts in return for buying a relatively cheap product - for example a mobile phone charger. Consumers who buy the cheap product (take the bait) are then put onto a waiting list to receive their free gift.

The person at the top of the list receives their gift only after a predetermined number of new buyers sign up. The victims are usually encourage to hasten he process along by introducng their friends and family to the scheme. The large majority of people on the list never receive the prize.

PRIZE DRAW MAILINGS The victim receives a notification by post that they have won a prize such as a holiday or a sweepstake draw. In order to receive the pize an administration fee or registration fee must be paid in advance. Once this is paid the prize will fail to materialise.

PROPERTY INVESTMENT SCHEMES Potential investors attend a free presentation, the purpose of which is to persuade them to pay large amounts of money to enrol on a course which promises to make them a successful property dealer.

Some schemes involve the offer of buying as yet unbuilt properties at a discount. Others involve a buy-to-let scheme where the scammers offer to source, renovate and manage existing properties which they claim will provide good returns from rental income. The properties are often derelict and the tenants do not exist.

PREMIUM RATE TELEPHONE NUMBER SCAMS The victim receives a notification in the post that they have won a prize - a holiday or a sweepstake. In order to claim the prize they need to call a premium rate number - usually beginning with 090 - which will incur high charges. Ofen there is a long recorded message and the prize simply does not exist.

INVESTMENT-RELATED SCAMS The victim receives an unsolicited telephone call which offers the opportunity to invest in rare co