Government warns of online scam boom

The government is warning that scams using email, text messaging and faxes are on the increase.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said unscrupulous firms are using bogus prize draws and special offers to entice recipients to reply.

There is particular concern that children are becoming victims of internet cons.

Premium-rate watchdog the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (Icstis) said mobile phone owners were receiving the message "I fancy you" and being asked to call a premium rate number without making clear the call charges.

Some people targeted by a text message scam received the same message up to 40 times in one day.

The DTI is encouraging victims to contact the Office of Fair Trading, their local trading standards office or Icstis.

Consumer minister Melanie Johnson said: "Every day, people throughout the UK open their mail, turn on their computers or switch on their mobile phones to learn that they've won 'an exciting prize' in a draw, lottery or some other promotion.

"While much of the marketing conducted in this way is legitimate, unfortunately it also includes examples which are misleading or untrue. All too often those people taken in by scams make the mistake of being too trusting and lose money as a result," she said.