ASK AN EXPERT

I’VE been getting a lot of emails saying I have won prizes – most of which are gift vouchers from supermarkets. These ask me to visit a link and provide my personal information so they can be sent to me, but I’m not sure. What should I do?

IT IS important to remember that if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

An increasing number of emails are being sent to consumers requesting entry to prize draws or falsely claiming they have won prizes, including gift vouchers or products.

Some of these are very convincing as they contain logos and images to appear like they have been sent by supermarkets and other large retailers.

Scam emails can contain tell-tale signs that often give them away as being fake attempts to gather your personal information.

This can include long, complex sender email addresses with characters that would look out of place in any communication from official companies or organisations.

You can check the address by expanding the sender information at the top of the email.

These emails may also contain spelling errors and blurry or pixellated images and logos, which could be a sign they have been copied and pasted from the official company’s website or other promotional material.

Scam emails may also be personalised to seem like they are reaching out from supermarket loyalty schemes.

When you receive an email making such a claim, avoid clicking on any links they contain.

Links may take us to fake websites designed to gather our personal information, or worse – download software on to our mobiles, tablets, or computers that contain viruses.

“Phishing” is a method used by scammers, reaching out to consumers through email or letters to gather personal or financial information.

The information is then used to perpetrate scams against the person now or in the future.

If you have supplied payment or financial information, such as card details or bank account numbers, you should contact the bank or card provider as soon as you can.

They may be able to put a stop to transactions that are pending, and in some cases get any money back that you have lost.

Report scam emails to Advice Direct Scotland and to the company that the email claims to be contacting you from.

Some of the larger supermarkets have dedicated contact details where people can forward scam emails.

Tesco, for example, suggests sending scam or phishing emails to phishing@tesco.com

Advice Direct Scotland runs consumeradvice.scot, Scotland’s national consumer advice service.

It works with Trading Standards teams across the country to prevent scams and help people who have been targeted by scammers.

The team there can make reports of scams, as well as advise on a range of consumer-related matters.

They are available on 0808 164 6000 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm), or through the website at www.consumeradvice.scot.

You can also report suspected scams and suspicious activity using the Quick Reporting Tool at www.scamwatch.scot.