Tomorrow morning we'll be reporting a Which? survey that shows over 5 million of us have been taken in by a scam - that's one in eight of the adult population.

And to be quite honest it's hardly news. We seem to have become sensitised to being ripped off so much that we are barely interested.

So calling a premium rate number may be a bit stupid, but it's not going to break the bank.

How about Get Rich Quick? Say I promise you a "can't fail" offer to make a fortune. All you have to do is follow some simple instructions and you can't lose. Sounds interesting? Of course it does, read on.

How Not to Make a Fortune

Instruction number one. You need to buy into the scheme. I mean you don't seriously think I can give my secrets away for free, do you? Of course not.

Now, once you've sent me £50 I'll send you a welcome pack.

Instruction number two. I'll show you how to advertise a fantastic scheme that'll have people knocking on your door to apply. Don't think that people won't be that stupid - ahem.

Unbelievably, all you have to do to get the cash rolling in is persuade the people who reply that you can get them rich too. Sell them the idea, get them to pay £50 and we'll split it.

Instruction number three. Repeat the process. Just think, you'll be getting a cut of the money every time a welcome pack is sold. How can it fail?

And we do get suckered into pyramid schemes, by the thousand. Sure if you're the lucky one at the top then you're doing very nicely, at every else's expense.

Pyramid and network marketing schemes like these are generally on the way out, but it simply means that criminals will be finding new ways to con you.

Healthy Skepticism

Scam emails, phishing, rip off ringtone subscriptions aimed at kids, account hijacking and ever more cunning ways to scam us are being devised. Fraudsters are simply using modern methods.

One of the reasons why scammers have had rich pickings over the last few years may eventually be their downfall. Improved communications may give criminals new channels, but it makes it easier for us all to share information, which will be key to keeping a step ahead.

The old maxim is as good as ever. If it sounds too good to be true ....