I received a text message asking me to apply for the £400 energy discount. The link in the text took me to a website that looks almost exactly like a government site. If it wasn’t for my wife who read in the paper that this discount is paid automatically, I would probably have been scammed. What can I do to protect myself from scam texts?

First things first, I’m sorry this has happened to you, and well done to your wife for remaining suspicious and vigilant. Scams have become a reality of our day-to-day lives. They can affect anyone, no matter how savvy you think you might be.

According to our data, almost three-quarters of people in the UK have been targeted by scammers in the last two years, and estimates by the National Audit Office put the total cost to consumers at £10bn.

Scams move very fast, with scammers using topical issues to attempt to draw people into sending money to them, or obtaining personal information such as bank details, credit card details, national insurance numbers and addresses.

From what we’ve seen so far, the cost of living crisis seems to be no different.

The increased financial pressures many are facing have put more people into difficult situations, facing issues such as debt, or not being able to afford essential goods and services. Scammers are likely to exploit this.

If you think someone might be trying to scam you, get advice. Contact the Citizens Advice consumer service for help with what to do next, and report scams or suspected scams to Action Fraud. You can also forward any suspicious texts free of charge to 7726.

There are some simple steps you can take to help protect yourself from scams:

• Don’t be rushed into making any quick decisions. It’s OK to take your time
• Never give money or personal details, like passwords or bank details, to anyone you don’t know, trust or have only met online. If someone pressures you for these, it’s most likely a scam
• Before you buy anything, check the company or website you’re using. Read reviews from different websites, search for the company’s details on Companies House, and take a look at their terms and conditions
• Pay by debit or credit card. This gives you extra protection if things go wrong
• Make sure your antivirus software is up to date
• Keep your online accounts secure. Use a strong password for email accounts that you don't use anywhere else
• Be suspicious. Scammers can be very smart. They can appear like a trusted business or government official, have a professional website and say all the right things. Take your time to work out if this is a real organisation. Ask them for ID, or contact the organisation on a number you know and trust

If you suspect you’re the target of a scam, protect yourself from further risks. There are things you can do to stop things getting worse. Don’t be embarrassed - if payment or banking details are involved in the scam, you should contact your bank or credit card company straight away. If the scam is a pension transfer, you’ll need to contact the provider immediately, along with the Pensions Advisory Service. Change your log-in details to re-secure them and help stop scammers accessing your accounts and details in future. You should also check for viruses and update your antivirus software if you were scammed on a computer.

If you’ve lost money because of a scam, there might be ways you can get it back. Again, make sure you tell your bank what happened straight away. Most banks should reimburse you if you’ve transferred money to someone because of a scam. This type of scam is known as an ‘authorised push payment’. If you’ve paid for something by card, bank transfer, Direct Debit or PayPal, then depending on the circumstances they might be able to help you get your money back.

And a very important thing is to talk about scams. Stigma is something we’ve been working to tackle for a number of years, but it remains one of the biggest barriers to stopping these crimes. As a nation, we still don’t talk enough about scams. Citizens Advice research found that 68% of people targeted by a scam don't tell anyone about it, including friends, family or the organisation being impersonated, as well as the relevant authorities. Talking about scams can help reduce the stigma and help protect others from falling victim. So, tell family, friends, neighbours so that they can avoid scams and find out how to protect themselves.

Listed below are a range of organisations that can provide information, advice and guidance on a range of scam awareness topics:

Citizens Advice Consumer Service

If you suspect an advert, email or text is a scam, you can contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or get help from their website.

You can also use their website to check if something might be a scam.

Action Fraud

National reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. You can report fraud if you've been scammed, defrauded or experienced cybercrime in England and Wales.

Friends Against Scams

Friends Against Scams is a National Trading Standards Scams Team initiative which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering people to take a stand against scams.

Take 5

Offers straightforward, impartial advice to help prevent online and text fraud. UK Finance lead on the campaign with a range of partners www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk

JobsAware

Provides free help and advice to UK workers who have suffered from job scams or unfair working practices.

Financial Conduct Authority

Find out how to report potential financial fraud or scams.

The Pension Regulator

Information about pension scams and how to avoid being scammed.

Gov.UK

Report misleading websites, emails, phone numbers, phone calls or text messages you think may be suspicious on the Gov.UK website.