The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) is urging scam victims to speak out to help stop the ever-growing wave of con artists during May, Scams Awareness Month.
Mass marketed scams such as fake lottery wins is having a devastating effect on the lives of millions of people in the UK, warns TSI. It wants people to ‘turn them in and turn the tide’ during May. Scammers often target elderly or vulnerable adults, tricking them into revealing their bank details or paying upfront fees with the lure of huge rewards. Victims can find themselves on the receiving end of wave after wave of letters, emails and phone calls aimed at parting them from their cash.
And even after they realise they have been cheated out of their life savings, many people do not report the crime as they are too embarrassed to tell anyone. The scammers are left free to carry on duping more and more victims, getting away with an estimated total of more than £73 billion a year according to the National Fraud Authority. The clear message from TSI as it launches Scams Awareness Month is ‘Turn them in and turn the tide’.
Working with Citizens Advice and Action Fraud – the national fraud and internet crime reporting and advice centre, trading standards teams across the country are encouraging anyone receiving scam mailings, or friends and family of anyone they believe is a victim of scam mailings, to speak up.
Scamnesty
“The mailings received in this year’s ‘scamnesty’ will be analysed and the information shared with partner enforcement agencies in the UK and abroad. This will help to build a picture of what is going on and crackdown on the senders and their networks,” said Louise Baxter, chair of the TSI Consumer Education Liaison Group, which is co-ordinating the campaign.
Sophisticated
As scammers use ever more sophisticated tactics and materials, an increasing percentage of people targeted are falling victim to crime. The most common types of scam include fake lotteries, prize draws and sweepstakes, advance fees and money transfers, ticketing, home working and career opportunities, health and slimming miracles, pay in advance credit, and investment opportunities.
Peter Wilson, Director of Action Fraud, said: “An essential part of stopping fraudsters preying on vulnerable people is to make sure these incidents are reported to Action Fraud. Whether you’ve lost money or not, we want to know what’s happened. All information is good information when it comes to tracking down those responsible for the network of scams that continue to plague people, particularly the elderly, daily.”
Another aim of May’s campaign is to help everyone recognise the warning signs and have the confidence to seek advice or simply reject approaches. People with elderly or vulnerable relatives are being urged to be extra-vigilant. An increase in mail, unusual payments or bank transactions, or more incoming telephone calls than normal to a parent, grandparent or other vulnerable adult could be a sign that scammers are at work.
Remember the following tips:
Stop, think and be sceptical. If something sounds too good to be true it probably is.
Do not be rushed into sending off money to someone you do not know, however plausible they might sound and even where an approach is personalised.
Ask yourself how likely it is that you have been especially chosen for this offer – thousands of other people will probably have received the same offer.
Think about how much money you could lose from replying to a potential scam – it’s not a gamble worth taking.
If you are unsure of an offer, speak to family or friends and seek advice before sending any money or giving out any banking or credit card details.
For further information visit the Trading Standards Institute website.
