Stones in the bottom of a bag of spuds, short measures in pubs, mail order goods that never arrived.

They were annoying and cost a few pence or a few quid here and there.

Don't get me wrong, I love technology and every gadget that goes with it.

But at what price does it come.

Last week I was offered, what I was told, was a bargain.

Someone wanted to protect me from identity fraud for a mere £80 a year.

I have never been burgled, I have never had my car stolen and my identity, as far as I am aware, is all my own.

I have never been mugged, no-one has wandered off with my mobile in the pub and, with one clerical exception, no money has ever gone out of my bank account in any direction other than the one I intended – even though I may not have been happy about it!

But I know that in today's society I am actually quite lucky. There is so much electronic fraud going on, that it is difficult to tell what email is real and what is fake.

All I know is that I get a dozen a week asking me to confirm details of my bank account or plastic.

They are all deleted instantly or forwarded to the bank they claim to be from – especially if they are actually from the nice bankers I have done business with for more than 25 years.

But not everyone avoids these scams and I think it is about time we scammed the scammers. If you hear of any scams you think should be publicised, drop me a line at edward.lee@eastlancsnews.co.uk and I will share them with Express readers both in print and on line.

This week's scam...
TRADING Standards Officers are making people aware of the following scam:

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting they were unable to deliver a parcel and you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a premium rate number).

DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize.

If you call the number and start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £15 for the phone call.

Please advise your family and friends.