More than 70 per cent of people in the East of England, including Watford, have been targeted by a scammer since January, new research by Citizens Advice Watford has found.

Fraudsters tried to trick locals in a range of ways, but the biggest scam faced by Watford locals is delivery scams. 57 per cent of people in the area said they’d been contacted about a scam of this kind.

Many people in the area say they’re worried that they or a loved one could fall victim to a scam, with 75 per cent saying they’re concerned this might happen.

To encourage people to report scams, share their experiences and look out for others, Citizens Advice Watford have launched their annual Scams Awareness campaign.

Emma Burgham, Chief Officer of Citizens Advice Watford, said: “A shocking number of people in Watford have been targeted by a scammer so far this year.

“As life begins to unlock, it’s so important we all do our bit and report anything that looks like a con when we see it. By learning how scammers operate, and helping each other understand what to look out for, we can all work together to stop fraudsters in their tracks."

To help stop more people being fleeced by these types of scams, Citizens Advice Watford is sharing the following tips on how to spot them.

It might be a scam if:

it seems too good to be true – for example, a holiday that’s much cheaper than you’d expect

you suspect you’re not dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address

you’ve been pressured to transfer money quickly or in an unusual way – like by iTunes vouchers or a transfer service

you’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs

you haven't had written confirmation of what's been agreed

If you’ve been scammed, Citizens Advice Watford advise:

talk to your bank or card company immediately if you’ve handed over any financial and sensitive information or made a payment

report offline scams, like telephone, post and doorstep, to Citizens Advice online or by calling 0808 223 1133. Report online scams to the dedicated Scams Action service either online or on 0808 250 5050

report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040

For more information call Citizens Advice Watford on 0800 144 8848 or visit cawatford.org.uk