Scammed out of savings

A victim of marketing scams loses an average of £7,000 during their lifetime, shocking figures will reveal today. In a study of 30,000 victims across the UK, one in 100 people lost more than £100,000 with around 3.2 million people thought to be victims of mass marketing fraud.

Among those victims, Yvonne Richards who after buying a £20 blender advertised in a magazine, was bombarded with junk mail after her name was put on a so-called suckers list. She went on to lost £35,000 in savings as a result...

The three most common scams are:

• Fake prize draws

• Make a purchase competition

• Clairvoyant scams

We chat to Alice Beer about the best way to beat the fraudsters and get tips on how to prevent your loved ones falling victim to the scammers.