Four million people in the UK scammed each year

Scams Awareness Month is running throughout May to warn about the fraudsters preying on hard-up households

Fraudsters are “picking the pockets” of up to four million people each year, finds new research from Citizens Advice.

The charity warns that as people across the country struggle to make ends meet they are being sized up by devious con artists. Scammers are targeting the elderly and desperate people with squeezed finances to swindle them out of their money.

Fraud offences in England and Wales rose by 25% in 2013, compared to the previous year, with 207,252 cases reported to Action Fraud. But Citizens Advice has calculated up to four million people could be scammed each year as many scams go unreported.

Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and the Trading Standards Institute launched Scams Awareness Month and throughout May are urging people to “fight back against the fraudsters”.

For the rest of the story and facts please visit Citizens Advice http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/pressoffice/press_index/press_20140501.htm