Don’t get scammed – February is national scams awareness month

As part of SCAM awareness month, Herefordshire Trading Standards Service is taking part in a national campaign led by the Office of Fair Trading ( OFT) called 'SCAMNESTRY' to highlight the growing problem of SCAMS and to help prevent local residents (especially the elderly & vulnerable) from being conned - potentially out of £000's of pounds!!

Every year an estimated three million UK consumers fall victim to scams sent by post, email, text, the phone and internet. One of the main themes of this year's campaign is to highlight the hidden misery of thousands of elderly and vulnerable consumers who repeatedly fall victim to scams such as bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draw and sweepstakes, fake psychics and 'miracle' health cures.

Anyone can fall for a scam but the elderly are often hit hardest. OFT research shows that older victims are likely to lose nearly twice as much per scam as others. Victims are often socially isolated, over-trusting or afflicted by illnesses such as dementia and can be repeatedly targeted by the scammers. Many lose their life savings and suffer depression and ill health as a result.

A tragic example of this locally, relates to an elderly gentlemen living alone in Herefordshire who lost in excess of £50,000 over a two year period to repeated mail shots. He frequently received two full mail sacks of such post each week.

During the month of February, Herefordshire Trading Standards Service is providing a number of mail boxes at libraries and info shops throughout the county for people to deposit any such unsolicited mail shots, leaflets or flyers. Details of such scams are to be collated to ascertain the top ten that are operating both locally and nationally.

Mike Pigrem Herefordshire Council's trading standards manager, said: "Scams can come in many different guises and once you have responded, you're more likely to get targeted again and again.

"People who get caught by these scammers are often the most vulnerable within our society and may be unable to protect themselves or unaware of their rights.. I would urge you that If you know of someone who may be vulnerable, please check that they are not being targeted. The aim of this 'Scamnestry' is make people think twice before they respond to such schemes and hopefully to prevent them from being conned".