Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire West Citizens Advice are urging people to spread the word about scams and expose the tactics of fraudsters to protect others.
The council’s Trading Standards Team is working with Cheshire West Citizens Advice to launch Scams Awareness Month in July to help stop people falling prey to scams by following a three-step rule - get advice, report it, and tell others about it.
It comes as national research by Citizens Advice finds scammers are using a variety of tactics to get people to part with their cash, with people losing an average of £2,500 across all types of scam.
Scam methods include ‘vishing’ whereby scammers cold-call people in a bid to get their bank details, and offers of fake services, such as telling people their computer has a virus which they can fix remotely.
Investment scams carried the highest price tag, with people investing in fake diamonds or bogus stocks and shares losing on average £20,000 each.
Citizens Advice is warning people to be on their guard and watch out for the different methods used by fraudsters, from doorstep selling of counterfeit goods to demands for upfront payments for services that never materialise.
The council’s Cabinet member for environment, Cllr Karen Shore, said: “We’re urging people to lift the lid on scams and start talking about suspicious email, junk mail, online ads or door-to-door sellers operating in their area.
“Scams thrive on silence. Fraudsters know that victims are often too ashamed to share what happened to them, meaning that scams can continue to spread unchecked.
“It’s vital to report scams and spread the word so we can clamp down on con artists and stop others falling into the same traps.”
Paul Nicholls, chief executive of Cheshire West Citizens Advice, said: “Scams are not a minor blight, they heap misery on people and in some cases can lead to financial ruin.
“Fraudsters use sophisticated techniques to con people and because they vary their methods, it can be tricky to spot when something is a scam. If you come across something that seems suspicious, seek advice so you don’t put yourself at risk.”
Cheshire West Citizens Advice is also inviting residents to join free events giving people the skills to stop scams in their tracks.
The events are taking place between 10am–noon at main libraries in Cheshire West and Chester; and you can just turn up on the day: Thursday, July 14 at Northwich Library; Monday, July 18 at Winsford Library; Wednesday, July 20 at Ellesmere Port; Wednesday, July 27 at Chester Library.
Cheshire West Citizens Advice will be on hand to show people how to spot a scam. People will learn the tell-tale signs of fraud, from being made an offer that’s too good to be true, to being rushed into signing on the dotted line.
If you think you have been scammed get advice and report it to Trading Standards through your local Citizens Advice or through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06.
