People are being urged not to fall for scams and rip-offs which could leave them heavily out of pocket.Durham County Council is marking ‘Scams Awareness Month’ – which takes place throughout May – by highlighting some of the most common con tricks people should watch out for.
They include dodgy internet-based offers, mailshot scams, bogus telesales calls and rogue traders who call at people’s homes.
Joanne Waller, head of environment, health and consumer protection at Durham County Council, said: “Scams often target the most vulnerable people and come in a variety of ways – including through the post, over the phone, on the doorstep and via the internet.
“They are all aimed at persuading people to hand over money or their personal details, which can then be used to commit fraud.
“These scams can bring heartbreaking consequences, particularly for elderly and vulnerable victims, so we want to ensure people are aware of them and can spot the warning signs.”
Scams Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about four main types of scam:
• Online scams, such as websites offering ‘check and send’ services for things such as passport, driving licence and European Health Insurance Cards applications as well as help with tax returns.
These copycat websites can appear genuine and give the appearance that they are official or authorised Government websites when this is not the case.
The fees charges by these sites are often substantial.
• Mailshot scams. These are often designed to get people to part with money or bank details by promising huge rewards.
The most common types of mailshot scam are fake lotteries, prize draws and sweepstakes, requests for advance fees or money transfers, promises of home working and career opportunities, offers of health and slimming ‘miracle’ products and investment opportunities.
• Telephone scams – in particular one where the caller claims to be from the Microsoft or Apple technical support team.
People receiving these calls have reported that they have been asked to give personal details or pay for an unnecessary service or bogus software which can enable fraudsters to access all data on their computer or leave the computer affected by harmful viruses or spyware.
The caller often claims there is a problem with the computer but cases that have come to light show that this is not true.
• Doorstep scams where tradesmen offer products or services at often extortionate prices. They often leave behind sub-standard work which the homeowner then has to spend more money on to get it put right.
These tradesmen can be difficult to trace as they rarely leave paperwork or receipts and the consumers often have no contact details.
People are being urged to look out for potential scams and be aware of some of the tell-tale signs – including promises of prize money in a competition you haven’t entered, requests for payment to claim a prize, offers that are too good to be true, persistent sales pitches and requests for bank details or money up front.
If anyone suspects they have been the targeted by a scam they are advised to report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and internet crime and details of some of the current scams targeting people are detailed on their website at www.actionfraud.police.uk
Advice is available from the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06 or online at www.adviceguide.org.uk
People are also urged to warn their family, friends and neighbours about scams and suspicious offers. Residents can get details of vetted traders by checking the Durham County Council Registered Trader Scheme at www.durham.gov.uk For more information on the campaign please visit www.tradingstandards.gov.uk