Neath Port Talbot Council Joins Forces To Tackle Scams

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council Trading Standards Department has joined the fight against scams by announcing their participation in the Friends Against Scams campaign. The Council is joining big names such as NatWest, Bournemouth University and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, who are all founding partners of the Friends Against Scams campaign, to protect our communities’ most vulnerable from falling victim to criminal stings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Friends Against Scams aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering communities to ‘Take a Stand Against Scams’ by changing the perception of scams and raising awareness of the financial and emotional impact of mass marketing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each year scams cause between £5bn and £10bn worth of detriment to UK consumers. In addition to the financial impact, scams can have a severe emotional and psychological impact on victims and it is often society’s most vulnerable who are targeted. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Friends Against Scams campaign, launched by the National Trading Standards Scams Team, is open to anyone who wants to protect themselves, their neighbours or their loved ones against scams. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Free training and awareness sessions – available online and in person – are being rolled out, which will provide people with the confidence and skills they need to identify and prevent scams. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Those who participate in the training will become a Friend Against Scams and will be encouraged to put their knowledge to use in their local communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Friends Against Scams campaign aims to: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Highlight the scale of the issue of scamming by encouraging communities and the nation to talk about scams
• Change the perceptions of why people become scam victims
• Prevent people from becoming or continuing to be a scam victim by providing better support
• Recruit individuals and communities to join the fight against scams to make this a scam-free nation

Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Ali Thomas OBE said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have joined the Friends Against Scams campaign as part of our on-going commitment to protecting our communities, particularly our most vulnerable residents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We all know scams can cause financial damage but many victims are also left feeling psychologically affected, socially isolated and often too embarrassed or uncomfortable to talk to their friends and family about what has happened to them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’re encouraging anyone interested in helping us fight fraud to sign up at www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lord Toby Harris, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I strongly believe this campaign can play an important role in helping stop scams. Criminals often prey on victims who find themselves in vulnerable situations and we can all play a part to protect ourselves, family members, friends and neighbours from falling victim to scams, which is why I welcome this campaign and encourage people to get involved. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Anyone who is worried they may be being scammed or who is concerned about someone who they fear may be a victim should report it to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​