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Scam Awareness Month 2014
Scam Awareness Week 2014
Category: Campaigns
Fight back against scammers to stop them getting away with scams in the UK.
Consumers are urged to check with trusted friends or relatives about anyone asking for financial details and to report dodgy requests
Trading Standards and Citizen’s Advice are calling for people in the UK to be on the lookout for any website, letter, doorstep seller or phonecall with a proposal that sounds too good to be true – because it might very well be a scam.
Scams come in lots of different of different shapes and sizes, including dodgy online adverts and tricksters using dating websites to build relationships with people they later defraud. Other common types including ‘phishing’ emails and ‘vishing’ phone calls designed to con people into giving away sensitive information, investment scams, and advanced fees requested to claim unexpected lottery wins.
With fewer than five per cent of people in the UK reporting scams to the authorities, Trading Standards and CAB have said that it is time to “fight back against scammers” to ensure they don’t get away with conning innocent people. People should report dodgy adverts or sales pitches to the authorities and speak to a friend or relative first about any out of the blue offers they get on the doorstep, by phone or email.
The push is part of the national campaign Scams Awareness Month, which launches on 1st May. Over the course of the month the campaign will highlight how people can be caught out through scams. The focus will be on online scams, postal cheats, phone cons and doorstep rip-offs.
“Scammers can’t continue to get away with fleecing people of their hard-earned money. We want to see a fight back against scams.
“It is a disgrace that scammers often target elderly people with sophisticated scams such as posing as their bank or phone company. People regularly come to us with heart-breaking stories about con artists taking their money and it’s important that people know what to look out for and what they can do.
“Anyone who is unsure about someone asking for their financial details should check with someone they trust and report anything that sounds dodgy to their local Citizens Advice Bureau. You can get the low-down on scams by visiting Citizensadvice.org.uk/sam14.”
“It’s time for us to give scammers the shove. By telling us about a scam we can stop the con artists in their tracks and make sure no one else falls foul of their tricks.
“This month we will be telling people about what to look out for, what kind of scams there are, and of the advice available if you think you might have been a victim.”
Top tips for dealing with scams
Follow the Campaign on Twitter by searching #ScamAware
More...
Category: Campaigns
Fight back against scammers to stop them getting away with scams in the UK.
Consumers are urged to check with trusted friends or relatives about anyone asking for financial details and to report dodgy requests
Trading Standards and Citizen’s Advice are calling for people in the UK to be on the lookout for any website, letter, doorstep seller or phonecall with a proposal that sounds too good to be true – because it might very well be a scam.
Scams come in lots of different of different shapes and sizes, including dodgy online adverts and tricksters using dating websites to build relationships with people they later defraud. Other common types including ‘phishing’ emails and ‘vishing’ phone calls designed to con people into giving away sensitive information, investment scams, and advanced fees requested to claim unexpected lottery wins.
With fewer than five per cent of people in the UK reporting scams to the authorities, Trading Standards and CAB have said that it is time to “fight back against scammers” to ensure they don’t get away with conning innocent people. People should report dodgy adverts or sales pitches to the authorities and speak to a friend or relative first about any out of the blue offers they get on the doorstep, by phone or email.
The push is part of the national campaign Scams Awareness Month, which launches on 1st May. Over the course of the month the campaign will highlight how people can be caught out through scams. The focus will be on online scams, postal cheats, phone cons and doorstep rip-offs.
“Scammers can’t continue to get away with fleecing people of their hard-earned money. We want to see a fight back against scams.
“It is a disgrace that scammers often target elderly people with sophisticated scams such as posing as their bank or phone company. People regularly come to us with heart-breaking stories about con artists taking their money and it’s important that people know what to look out for and what they can do.
“Anyone who is unsure about someone asking for their financial details should check with someone they trust and report anything that sounds dodgy to their local Citizens Advice Bureau. You can get the low-down on scams by visiting Citizensadvice.org.uk/sam14.”
“It’s time for us to give scammers the shove. By telling us about a scam we can stop the con artists in their tracks and make sure no one else falls foul of their tricks.
“This month we will be telling people about what to look out for, what kind of scams there are, and of the advice available if you think you might have been a victim.”
Top tips for dealing with scams
- If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
- It you haven’t bought a ticket – you can’t win it.
- You shouldn’t have to pay anything to get a prize.
- If in doubt, don’t reply. Bin it, delete it or hang up.
- Persuasive sales patter? Just say: “No thank you”.
- Contacted out of the blue – be suspicious.
- Never give out your bank details unless you are certain you can trust the person contacting you.
- Take your time – resist pressure to make a decision straight away.
- Never send money to someone you don’t know.
- Walk away from job ads that ask for money in advance.
- Your bank will never attend your home.
- Your bank and the police will never collect your bank card.
- Your bank and the police will never ask for your PIN.
- Computer firms do not make unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer.
- Don’t suffer in silence – tell others about scams.
Follow the Campaign on Twitter by searching #ScamAware
More...
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