Desperate times, desperate consumers

The current economic recession has provided rogue traders with opportunities to make money out of desperate consumers who are seeking to manage their more restricted finances.

Citizens Advice Bureaux in England, Wales and Scotland have been reporting scams and sharp practices experienced by consumers who are looking for work, training or affordable accommodation, trying to cut their expenditure or increase returns from investments, looking for credit to make up the shortfall and to reduce their debt repayments.