Consumer watchdog calls for April Fool’s Day vigilance all year

CONSUMERS have been warned to turn their April Fool’s Day vigilance into a year-long habit after a survey claimed that one in five people have become the victim of scams and con artists.

New figures revealed by the National Consumer Agency (NCA) show that despite the annual focus on April 1 schemes, a significant number of people are leaving themselves open to manipulation on the other 363 days of the year.

According to a national survey by the group conducted last month, 76% of the population have been targeted by scams, with 18% falling victim to those perpetrating the schemes.

While the public’s awareness of the threats posed by chain letters, foreign “lotteries” and pyramid schemes is high, the NCA warned that the most likely tricks used by con artists involve premium rate prize schemes and bogus callers or tradesmen.

“There is no limit to the ingenuity of scam artists in devising new ways of parting people from their hard-earned cash,” the group’s chief executive Ann Fitzgerald explained.

“There is a large variety of scams out there, including pyramid schemes, chain letters, dodgy prize draws, phishing scams, seeking to gain access to personal bank account details and boiler room scams where investors are sold useless shares.

“We are being targeted by callers to our homes, over the internet, via email, over the phone, by personalised letter and by leaflet drop. The clear message is that there have never been more attempts to scam people, so consumers need to be extra vigilant,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

In an attempt to address the issue, the NCA has urged consumers to be aware that not all scams are entirely based on fiction, with some offering a genuine service – but at a vastly inflated price.

Others, the group says, provide “unwanted add-ons” involving initially hidden costs, while others charge customers for a service that is available for free elsewhere.

“A live example of this is the case of websites charging to process US visa waiver applications for consumers when that same service is available free of charge via the relevant US government website,” an NCA spokesperson explained.

Other ongoing scams the group is aware of include an email alleging to be from the Revenue Commissioners offering a tax refund, and a fake letter from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) claiming to offer a government grant.

For further information, contact the NCA at www.consumerconnect.ie