Hosted by the Ann Craft Trust, Safeguarding Adults Week 2023 will be taking place between 20th -24th November. It is an opportunity for organisations to come together with the aim of highlighting key safeguarding issues, starting conversations, and sharing best practice.
The Public Protection Partnership will be supporting Safeguarding Adults Week through the delivery of an online and in person presentation on the topic of ‘Scams’. The aim being to raise awareness around fraud; what preventative measures to consider to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, along with ways to move forward following an incident of fraud. Details to book can be found via the link Safeguarding Adults Week 2023 - West of Berkshire (sabberkshirewest.co.uk).
There will also be a drop-in session in Wokingham during this week with the Partnerships Fraud Victim Support Officer, Malcolm Phillips, hosted by Barclays Bank, Bradbury Centre, Wokingham between 12:00pm - 3:00pm on Wednesday 22nd November.
The National Crime Agency state that at the end of December 2022, there were 3.7 million incidents of fraud in England and Wales. With over £1.2 billion being stolen by criminals through fraudulent activities, equating to £2,300 each minute (UK Finance).
Councillor Lee Dillon, Chairman of the Joint Public Protection Committee, said ‘With fraud on the increase, and more people working from home, therefore readily available to answer the phone and respond to email and text, we need to be more careful. Make sure you take time to evaluate what is being said or what you are reading. Do your own research rather than taking things at face value.
Remember the ABCs:
Assume nothing
Believe nothing
Challenge everything
And if it’s out of the Blue it’s not for you.’
For more information, or if you believe you or someone you know has been the victim of fraud, please contact tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk tel 01635 519930
