Citizens Advice has revealed a 17% increase in people being scammed after purchasing 'phantom goods'. Credit: ITV News
Local advice charity, Citizens Advice Exeter, is spreading the word about scams to help stop more people across Exeter from being conned online.
The charity is taking part in Scams Awareness Month, a campaign takingplace throughout July encouraging people to report and talk about scams.
The drive to get more people reporting scams comes as nationally CitizensAdvice has revealed a 17% increase in people being scammed afterpurchasing 'phantom goods'.
The scam works by conning shoppers into buying high value items online,which turn out not to exist. The average loss was £1,100.
People were most likely to be scammed when buying cars, flights andfurniture. Other 'phantom goods' included jewellery and cameras.
The Citizens Advice consumer service received 555 reports of 'phantomgoods' scams during January and March 2017, compared with 475 over thesame period the year before.
