The Public Protection Partnership and Citizens Advice are launching their annual Scams Awareness campaign to remind our residents and businesses not to be rushed into signing up to financial opportunities, even if you think it’s too good a deal to miss out on.
The aim of the campaign is to alert consumers and help them to spot a scam and know what to do when they come across one. We have seen a rise in scammers posing as traders or selling through online marketplaces.
In 2023 the Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline saw investment and financial planning advice featuring in 4 of the top 5 trading practices flagged as scams, as well as 4 of the top 5 top trader purchase methods flagged as scams. This made up 1591 complaints - or 5.8% of all suspected scam complaints.
Scammers always seek out opportunities to prey on people’s vulnerabilities. The increased financial pressure many of us are facing may make us more vulnerable to these opportunists. Some of the current scams emerging include scammers posting investment opportunities on social media that offer large profits and fraudsters using high pressure sales techniques to get vulnerable consumers to invest in their schemes.
Something might be a scam if:
- It seems too good to be true.
- Someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly.
- You are being encouraged to respond or pay quickly.
- You’ve been asked to give away personal information.
Protect yourself by:
- Not giving any financial or bank details to anyone you don’t know or have met online.
- Researching any traders or companies before confirming any payments especially if they seem too good to be true.
- Talking to friends and family.
- Not being rushed into making a decision.
- Acting straight away if you think you have been scammed.
Isabel Esperança, Chief Officer of Citizens Advice West Berkshire, said: “Many people are desperately looking for ways to raise money and get out of debt during the cost of living crisis. Ruthless scammers exploit people searching for debt, pension or investment advice, causing financial and emotional damage. Don’t be rushed to sign up to financial opportunities, even if you think you might miss out on a good deal. Don’t provide personal details or bank details straight away.”
“We’re working with the Public Protection Partnership to help people spot scams, report scams and look out for each other. If you need advice and support on scams you can call the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk.”
Councillor Iskandar Jefferies the Chairman of the Joint Public Protection Committee, said “Be suspicious, scammers can be very convincing and say all the right things. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Remember paying by debit or credit card can give you more protection and don’t be embarrassed if you do get scammed. Contact your bank immediately to let them know what’s happened. I would encourage you to report any scam activity to our colleagues at Citizen Advice as it could help to protect others from getting scammed.”
Notes:
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) sets out the legislative scheme for the recovery of money from criminal conduct following a confiscation investigation. Confiscation occurs after a conviction has taken place. The aim is to deny criminals the benefit of their criminal conduct, recover the proceeds of crime and disrupt and deter criminality.
The Public Protection Partnership (PPP) is a shared service delivering Environmental Health, Licensing and Trading Standards to people and businesses on behalf of Bracknell Forest Council, and West Berkshire Council.
PPP work jointly with Wokingham Borough Council to provide a Trading Standards, Financial Investigation and Case Management Service across the three authority areas.
These services encompass a wide range of areas of responsibility from environmental protection to fair trading, food safety to animal health, housing standards to taxi licensing, and more.
