"Later there was a rise in people reporting cold-calling computer-support companies Such incidents continued into 2011.

"The next most common incidents reported were hacked email accounts being used to send spam and to request emergency funds from friends; phishing attacks on people using online banking and fake Inland Revenue and bank-fee refund offers.

"The largest individual losses reported were romance scams, that may have taken many months to perpetrate," Cocker says.

An infographic showing the types of incident reports to Orb can be .