CITIZENS Advice East Hampshire is urging people to spread the word about scams and expose the tactics of fraudsters to protect others.

July is Scams Awareness Month to help stop people falling prey by following a three-step rule – get advice, report it, and tell others about it.

It comes as national research by Citizens Advice (formerly CAB) finds scammers are using a variety of tactics to get people to part with their cash, with people losing an average of £2,500 across all types of scam.

Scam methods include vishing (cold callers asking for bank details) and offers of fake services, such as telling people their computer has a virus which they can fix remotely.

Investment scams carried the highest price tag, with people investing in fake diamonds or bogus stocks and shares losing on average £20,000 each.

Citizens Advice East Hampshire is always willing to help people targeted by scams. It warns people to be on guard and watch out for the different methods used by fraudsters, from doorstep selling of counterfeit goods to demands for upfront payments for services that never materialise.

Jon Stuart, chief executive of Citzens Advice East Hampshire, said: “Scams are not a minor blight, they heap misery on people and in some cases can lead to financial ruin.

“Fraudsters use sophisticated techniques to con people and because they vary their methods, it can be tricky to spot when something is a scam. If you come across something that seems suspicious, seek advice so you don’t put yourself at risk.

“It’s vital to report scams and spread the word so we can clampdown on con artists and stop others falling into the same traps.”