Online scams are on the rise and are becoming far more sophisticated.

They come in the form of phone calls, texts, emails and social media.

Scamsters can trick people through dating apps, employment schemes ... pretty much anything in which money or crucial information can be exchanged.

And while less common now, tricksters can also appear at people’s front doors. Be very aware of these as they use the personal touch to try to get you to buy something that will likely be poor quality.

Here is a guide to the most common scams.

How can you spot a scam?

We've already used the word sophisticated to describe modern-day scams and that means we need to be more savvy at detecting them. Think of yourself as a police officer.

If you receive a call purporting to be from a bank or company, and are suspicious about the intent, hang up politely and call them on the number that’s listed on Google or their website.

For example, this writer recently received a call that appeared to be from my phone network. The company’s name came up as the caller so it seemed on the surface to be a legitimate call. My suspicions were immediately raised when the caller failed to provide their name, only saying ‘this is your phone provider’. Then he said ‘I have some news for you’ which made me realise it was scam and when I exposed him he hung up before I’d even finished my sentence, saving me the effort.

If you receive an email with an offer which says you need to take some sort of action, look at it closely for any errors such as spelling and grammar, and also the logo which may be fake. The information may also be too vague as it is likely to be a mass mail out.

Do a Google search to see if the company is genuine. If unsure about it call the company or organisation directly.

If somebody is asking you to give money or to share details around passwords, then ignore it. Banks and other financial organisations would not do that. The number one rule is never give out your personal information or your contact details.

If you’re buying goods online, check the billing process is secure (characterised by https:// and a padlock symbol in the URL). Ensure the business has a physical address and telephone number.

Research the firms you’re dealing with. Use the Companies Register to see if the company exists and who’s behind it.

Who to contact if you’re concerned about a potential scam?

If you suspect you are being targeted by a scammer, there are places that you can report them. Depending on the type of scam, you will need to contact different people:

• Financial and investment scams - Financial Markets Authority
• Cyber security scams - Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) NZ or Netsafe
• Commerce-based scams - Commerce Commission
• Banking and credit card scams - your bank
• Spam emails and text messages - Department of Internal Affairs
• Contact the police after identity theft or fraud