DON'T GET CONNED AT CHRISTMAS

Charity's warning as fraud cases soar

- BY SALLY HIND

PRE-CHRISTMAS scams targeting Scots have doubled as experts warn of this year's biggest cons.

Figures from a consumer charity show a surge in cases of fraudsters offering fake phone network deals, shoddy home improvements and “fund recovery” tricks - where crooks pretend they can recoup money lost to previous scams.

Advice Direct Scotland noted a 20 per cent increase in reported scams during November and the charity had already received more than 80 per cent of its average monthly scam reports in the first two weeks of December.

It yesterday warned Scots against fraudsters exploiting seasonal goodwill.