Scam Awareness Month has been and gone but that does not mean that we should not all continue to be vigilant and mindful of the threats that exist. We should all be very mindful that sensible precautions will help to keep us safe and, importantly, keep our details and our finances safe and secure. The precautions are easy to follow and do not cost anything to implement. However, if you fail to take the precautions the costs could be significant.
July 2015 was Scam Awareness Month
Scam Awareness Month ran throughout July 2015, with the intention
of assuring consumers are informed and are ready to talk about their own experiences to help prevent others. Sporting the headline “Don’t be rushed, Don’t b
e hushed”, the campaign is supported nationally by Trading Standards and other organisations.
Each year millions of people in the UK are victims of scammers. Estimates put the figure lost to scammers by as much as £5 billion. The truth is – with reporting levels as low as 5% for some types of scams – the real impact cannot be quantified.
Scams are crimes that affect many different groups of people with distressing, and sometimes disastrous consequences. Many go unreported either because the consumer does not spot something amiss or because people who become victims of scams feel a sense of shame.
To understand and prevent such crimes, it is essential that consumers get the information they need to spot scams in the first place; report them when they are targeted and get the advice they need to help protect them in future.
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER & SHARE
- 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.
- 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 to collect cash, your PIN, payment card or chequebook if you are a victim of fraud.
- Your bank will never phone you to ask for your PIN number.
- Genuine computer firms do not make unsolicited calls to help you fix your computer.
Don’t suffer in silence – speak out about scams and help others to not fall victim to the scammers. If you have had a strange call from a company or individual that you do not know nor recognize do not give any personal details. Go talk to friends and neighbours and see if they have had the calls too. Like the campaign says: Don’t be Rushed…Don’t be Hushed.
If you would like more details on information shared within the campaign you can use the link below to view a leaflet and guide: It is FREE and could save you a fortune.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/CitizensAdvice/campaigns/scams/sam15-briefing.pdf
This information is brought to you by Just Lets and courtesy of www.safelocaltrades.com an online register of local vetted and recommended trades people.
