Most door-to-door fraud involves selling goods or services that are either not delivered or are very poor quality. You won’t get value for money, and you may get billed for work you didn’t want or agree to.

Some criminals conduct surveys just to get your personal details. They may also do it as a cover to sell you goods or services you don’t want or need, such as roofing work or a patio replacement.

Dishonest employees sometimes act illegally, even when selling a genuine product by a genuine business.

A criminal calls you saying there is a problem with your bank account and gets you to tell them your bank card PIN. They might say there’s a fraudulent payment on your card or that someone has been arrested using your details. They then tell you that a courier will pick up your bank card, so that it can be cancelled. With your card and PIN, they can now use your card.

A criminal may convince you that there is an investigation where they need you to withdraw cash or buy expensive items. This could be foreign or crypto currency, gold bullion, jewellery, mobile phones or designer goods. They tell you this is required so that they can identify the corrupt person. The criminal may pose as a police officer. Once you’ve bought the items or withdrawn the cash, they’ll ask you to give it to a courier, or post it to an address, claiming they’ll transfer it to the police. They'll then take the money or goods.

A fraudster may also say that your bank account has been taken over and that you need to transfer your money to a new 'safe' account. The new account is operated by the criminals, who then steal the funds.

If someone knocks at your front door claiming to be from a company, first check their ID. If you’re not happy, don’t let them in.

Never call the phone number on a salesperson's ID card to check them out. Ask them to wait outside, shut the door and find the company number on the internet. If they’re genuine, they’ll understand.

Banks and the police will never call you to verify your PIN. They won’t ask you to withdraw money or buy or send items on their behalf for investigations. Hang up if you get a call like this.

Always verify suspicious calls by contacting the organisation using a trusted phone number. Calling 159 will put you through to your bank. If calling back from a landline after a suspicious call, wait a few minutes as criminals may stay on the line after you hang up. Alternatively, use a different phone line to call your bank.

Never transfer money or make purchases on behalf of someone you don’t know.

If it's an emergency, call the police on 999.

Report suspicious activity to Report Fraud, the UK’s national cyber crime and fraud reporting service.

you can do this online by visiting the Report Fraud website

you can also call them on 0300 123 2040

if you are deaf or hard of hearing you can use textphone 0300 123 2050

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