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'Take a stand against scams' at
free scam awareness sessions
RESIDENTS and local
organisations are being asked to:- 'take a stand against scams' and attend
free awareness sessions hosted by Wirral Council's Trading Standards Team. The
'Friends
Against Scams' sessions are part of a national campaign from the National
Trading Standards Scams team designed to equip residents with the practical
tools to spot a scam and report it.
Through these sessions:- 'friends' are recruited and asked to commit to
passing on their newly found knowledge to friends and family and potentially
identify more victims of scams. Attendees who wish to play a bigger role can
attend an extra training session and become a:- 'Scam Champion,' enabling
you to recruit new Friends against Scams.
Scams are the product of organised criminals who try and gain people's trust to
exploit and steal money.
Cllr Phillip Brightmore, Wirral's Cabinet Member for Environment said:-
"This campaign is about protecting our communities, particularly people in
vulnerable situations who are deliberately targeted by criminals and we hope the
people of Wirral will get on board with us. If anyone ever contacts you, be it
by phone, email or knocking on your door and you are in any doubt, say NO and
end the exchange as quickly as you can."
Scamming is on the rise with 53% of people aged over 65 being targeted and scams
costing the UK between ₤5-10 billion each year.
However, anyone can fall victim to a scam, regardless of age, gender, education
or economic background and might not always admit or be aware they are the
victim of a scam. Consequently, only 5% of victims report the crime.
If you would like to attend a Friends against Scams session or would like to
arrange 1 for your organisation please contact Trading Standards via
email.
More information about scams, including free training, is available on the
'Friends Against Scams'
website.
If you believe that you may have been the victim of fraud and would like to make
a report or need guidance on fraud and how to protect yourself, please go to:-
ActionFraud.Police.UK or call:- 0300 123 2040. If you want advice
and suspected scam is taking place, you can also contact Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline, on:- 0345 404
0506.
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