Taking A Stand Against Scams

As ‘Scams Awareness Month’ continues, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team are encouraging residents to work alongside them to help ensure local people don’t fall prey to scams. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Trading Standards are advising residents to follow a simple three step rule – Get advice, report it, and tell others about it when it comes to potential scams. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each week throughout July, ‘Scams Awareness Month’ has had a particular theme, and this week (starting Monday 25th July) focuses on doorstep scams. Trading Standards are offering the following advice to help guard against doorstep callers: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Fit and use a door security chain when opening the door
• Check the identification of a caller by ringing their employer. Use the information from your telephone book and not one they might supply. If they are a genuine caller they won’t mind waiting while you check
• Do not let anyone carry out work on your home until you get a second opinion, and never agree to callers who say ‘we are only in the area today’
• Never keep large sums of money in the house and keep purses and wallets out of sight, not near the door
• Get advice from the Citizens Advice Consumer Service, which can provide advice and pass details onto Trading Standards. The number is 03454 04 05 06
• Report scams or suspected scams to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk
• Tell a friend, neighbour or relative about any scams you become aware of

Cllr Nigel George, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Protection has also recently signed up to be a ‘Scambassador’ as part of a national campaign from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute which aims to raise awareness of scams. By becoming a ‘Scambassador’, it is hoped that residents will know that as well as being able to report issues to Trading Standards, there is also someone in their community that they can report their concerns around scams to. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nigel said, “The last thing we want to do is cause undue concern or worry to our residents, but it is important that everyone is aware of the sophisticated techniques that scammers can use to try and con people. It is vital to report scams and spread the word, so that we can clampdown on con artists and help stop others falling into the same traps. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m pleased to have signed up to be a ‘Scambassador’ for this very important campaign and would encourage others to consider doing the same”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Report an issue to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​