Someone's trying to steal your money and your identity.

The tickets to your favourite band’s concert have just been released, you really want to go but you can’t afford the retail price. You do some research online and find them for 40% off, is this too good to be true? 

Before you click "buy", take a closer look. If the seller isn't genuine, you could lose your money and hand personal information straight to a scammer.

The good news is that shopping online is safe when you know what to look for. Taking a moment to check who you're buying from can help protect your money, your personal information, and stop scammers from using your details for fraud or future scams.

Watch our video to understand how scammers get your personal info and keep reading to learn more about specific scams built to catch you out.

If you've watched the video, you already know the basics: identity theft is when someone steals your personal information and identity fraud is when they use it to pretend to be you – opening accounts, taking out loans or making purchases in your name. 

But how do scammers get that information in the first place? 

Most identity fraud starts with a scam. The scams below are how criminals get your money and the information they need.

If it happens to you

Contact your bank straight away, report it to Report  Fraud, and if you’re over 18 check your credit report for anything you don't recognise.

It's not embarrassing; these scams are designed by professionals to catch you out, but by learning how criminals operate you can spot the warning signs and better protect yourself.

Remember the golden rule: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Taking a few minutes to check can save you a lot of money and stress later.