Warning: Money-Saver.net is NOT MoneySavingExpert.com – we don't take your cash

MoneySavingExpert.com is a consumer help website, here to fight your corner. We NEVER take your money, and we don't have any way to do so as we don't have any payment systems.

We're stressing this after recently being contacted by a handful of people who wrongly believe we have taken money from their accounts.

The amounts people report being taken vary from £39.95 to £90, but while the majority do not detail what the transactions are listed as on their statements, or why they believe it was taken by us, one person says the money has been taken by a firm called 'wwwmoney savernet' [sic].

Another says they saw an unknown transaction on their account taken by a company called 'money-saver.net'. But just to reiterate, this is nothing to do with MoneySavingExpert.com.

If you spot a company or website that appears to be imitating or claiming to be MoneySavingExpert.com in any way, shape or form, please let us know by commenting in this forum thread or by emailing furtherhelp@moneysavingexpert.com. This way we can try and stop it happening in the future.

While bank and credit card statements may say 'wwwmoney savernet', we don't know if it's the website of the same name. But if you believe you've had money wrongly taken, see our tips below and our 30 Ways to Protect Yourself Online guide.

I think I've had money wrongly taken. What can I do?

Below is a need-to-know checklist of what you should do if you think you've had money wrongly taken from your account:

• Call your bank to notify it and to cancel any recurring payments (also known as continuous payment authorities).

• Speak to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506 or the Financial Conduct Authority's helpline on 0800 111 6768.

• Report any potential scam to the police through Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or report a scam anonymously on its website.

• If you've already responded to a potential scam, end all further communication immediately.

Can I get my money back?

If you've had money taken from you, there are a number of avenues you can try to get your cash back:

• Your first port of call is to try to ask the company or person that took your money to refund it. If this doesn't work, try the steps below.

• If money has been taken from your bank account, or £99 or less has been taken from your credit card account, you can try to claim your money back from your card provider under the Chargeback scheme. However, this is a voluntary agreement, so there's no guarantee it will work.

• If £100 or more has been taken from your credit card, you may be able to claim it back from your provider under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Unlike Chargeback, this is a legal requirement.

• Unfortunately, if you've transferred the money using companies such as Moneygram, Western Union or PayPal, you generally can't get your money back once you've handed it over, although of course there's no harm in asking.

Protect yourself online

It's always best to be vigilant. Below are some of our top tips – see our 30 Ways to Protect Yourself Online guide for more.

• Keep a regular eye on your bank or credit card account for fraud. If you see anything unusual, contact your bank or credit card provider immediately, and Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via www.actionfraud.police.uk as soon as possible.

• Keep an eye on your credit file in case anyone's stolen your ID. The credit reference agencies can tell you if anyone's tried to open accounts in your name. Check for free – see our Credit Report guide.

• Regularly change your passwords. It's best practice to change passwords every now and then – see Martin's Easy Password Tricks blog for passwords help.

• Beware cold calls/emails. If you're contacted by anyone asking you for personal data or passwords (such as for your bank account), it's more than likely to be a scam. See our 'No cold callers' guide to stop spam texts, calls and mail.