THE LATEST SCAM

QLike many people, I am really feeling the pinch with rising living costs at the moment. I’ve been looking for ways to save money but I’m finding that the more I look, the more adverts and emails I receive from insurance and gas companies offering me supposedly competitive rates. How can I work out what’s genuine and what’s too good to be true?

AJAMES SAYS As you said, you’re not alone, and many of us are feeling the pinch and unsure how to determine what’s simply a good deal and what could be a scam. Fake insurance scams are everywhere and are very hard to recognise, as ‘ghost brokers’ use false information to buy policies through legitimate companies, which they then doctor and sell on. It’s always best to check a broker’s status on the Financial Conduct Authority or British Insurance Brokers’ Association websites – or indeed contact insurers directly, rather than going through offers via email or text message.