Be Scam Aware - Don’t let scammers steal your money
Citizens Advice West Berkshire (CAWB) and West Berkshire Council’s Public Protection Partnership have launched their annual Scams Awareness campaign to encourage people to report scams, share their experiences and look out for others.
Lynn Collie, Research and Campaigns Coordinator at Citizens Advice West Berkshire said:
“With many people facing increased financial pressures, there are clear signs that scammers are taking advantage of this to trick local people out of their money.
Citizens Advice has advised clients who have fallen victim to a variety of scams, including investment scams, income tax scams and energy scams. Fraudsters are becoming ever more sophisticated but there are things that we can all do to help ourselves and others. Above all, it’s important to report scams and speak about them to family and friends.
Cllr Thomas Marino on behalf of West Berkshire Council’s shared service Public Protection Partnership said:
“Anyone can fall victim to a scam. People of all ages and backgrounds get scammed. By learning how scammers operate, and helping each other understand what to look out for, we can all work together to stop fraudsters in their tracks. Be on your guard – if you are not sure about something take your time and get advice.”
To help stop more people being fleeced, Citizens Advice West Berkshire and West Berkshire Council Public Protection Partnership are sharing the following tips on how to spot scams and what to do if you have been scammed.
It might be a scam if:
- it seems too good to be true – for example, a holiday that’s much cheaper than you’d expect
- you’ve been pressured to transfer money quickly or in an unusual way – like by Amazon vouchers or a money transfer service
- you’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs
If you’ve been scammed:
- Talk to your bank or card company immediately if you’ve handed over any financial and sensitive information or made a payment
- If you have been scammed on a computer change relevant log-in details and check for viruses:
- Call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or visit citizensadvice.org.uk/scamsadvice We’ll pass the details of the scam to the local Trading Standards service and can offer further advice
- If you are a West Berkshire resident, you can call Citizens Advice West Berkshire on 01635 516605 and leave a message.
- Report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ They’ll also issue a crime reference number.
