{"id":69457,"date":"2022-12-13T15:47:18","date_gmt":"2022-12-13T15:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=69457"},"modified":"2022-12-13T15:47:19","modified_gmt":"2022-12-13T15:47:19","slug":"the-scammers-taking-advantage-of-the-cost-of-living-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2022\/12\/13\/the-scammers-taking-advantage-of-the-cost-of-living-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"The scammers taking advantage of the cost-of-living crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Over two-thirds of the UK have been targeted by scams. How can you protect yourself?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

FRAUDSTERS have been targeting vulnerable people across the country with cost-of-living scams, hitting those who are struggling most the hardest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common scams consists of sending out fake government website links asking for personal details to claim a government payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One 72-year-old who didn\u2019t want to be named said that she felt embarrassed to have almost fallen victim to one of these scams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI got a text message that claimed to be from GOVUK saying that I was eligible for support to pay my energy bill and to follow the link to what I thought was the UK government website,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt took me to a form that asked for some details so that I could apply for the discount scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said she had been extremely concerned about rising costs so didn\u2019t think twice before clicking on the link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew that the government was offering the \u00a3400 to help toward the rising living costs but I hadn\u2019t paid much attention to how this worked,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think that it was explained very clearly, especially to people like me who live alone and aren\u2019t very used to technology.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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