WEST Devon Citizens' Advice Bureau is warning people to be on the look out for rogues who are ripping people off by tricking them into parting with money by promising them gifts, prizes, jobs or cash.

The charity is raising the alarm bell about these cons at the start of its Scams Awareness Month, which will be running throughout May.

New national figures reveal more than 22,000 reports of scams were made to the Citizens' Advice service in England and Wales in the last 12 months.

Yet Citizens' Advice says many fail to report if they have been ripped-off.

Citizens' Advice and Trading Standards are running Scams Awareness Month, warning people to be vigilant against rogues and urging people to 'spot scams to stop scams'. 

Mandy Kenyon, development officer at West Devon CAB, said: 'People are seeing their money go down the drain as con artists rip them off by promising lottery wins, work from home or a new job — only to find there is nothing at the end.

'This month we are warning our community to be on the look out for rogues looking to make a quick buck at their expense and reminding people that scams are crimes, so it is vital that they are reported.'  

Throughout the whole of May, Citizens' Advice Bureaux and Trading Standards across England and Wales will be highlighting to people that scams come in all shapes and sizes, including advertisements, people knocking on the door, emails, letters, phone calls, texts, social networking sites and over the internet.

CABs and trading standards officers will be warning people to look out for key signs that something is a scam, like being contacted out of the blue, requests for money in advance or telling you to keep it a secret and have released some new top tips on how to spot a scam and protect yourself from rogues.

Anyone who thinks they have been scammed should report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 to help stop it happening to others.

Get advice from http://www.adviceguide.org.uk">www.adviceguide.org.uk or call Citizens' Advice on 08454 040506.