1. BOGUS HOLIDAY CLUBS

How do they work?
Consumers are approached while on holiday or at home in the UK. The promise of a free holiday is used to lure them to a presentation where they are pressured into signing up to a holiday club offering great value holidays all over the world in top-class accommodation.

In reality dates or destinations are not guaranteed and holidays are often not available when and where wanted. Victims later find out that the 'free' holiday isn't free, as they must pay for flights and other add-ons and go somewhere they don't want to go at a time that doesn't suit.

• Yearly cost to UK public- £1.17bn.
• Number of victims - 400,000.
• Average loss per victim - £3,030.
• Victim profile - A high 78% are aged between 35 and 64.

>> GUIDE: Holiday clubs

2. HIGH-RISK INVESTMENTS

How do they work?
Consumers are contacted by letter, phone or e-mail and offered a chance to invest in shares, fine wine, gemstones, art or other 'rare' high-value items. The promise is that these will rocket in value. But what is offered is often over-priced, very high risk and difficult to sell on.

• Yearly cost to UK public- £490m.
• Number of victims - 90,000.
• Average loss per victim - £5,660.
• Victim profile – Three quarters are men and more than a third are aged over 65.

>> Investors warned over new share scam
>> I lost £150,000 in share scam
>> Share pushers pick wrong victim (listen to call with the Mail on Sunday)


3. PYRAMID SELLING AND CHAIN LETTERS

How do they work?
Consumers, often friends or relatives, are asked to pay to become a member and are promised large commission earnings if they recruit others to the scheme. If enough new members join, the pyramid will grow, possibly enabling some members to make money. But, in order for every member to make money, there would need to be an endless supply of newcomers.

• Yearly cost to UK public- £420m.
• Number of victims - 480,000.
• Average loss per victim - £930.
• Victim profile – Nearly three-quarters of victims are aged between 35 and 64.

Continues at This is Money.co.uk