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People Urged To Spot Signs Of Investment Fraud In Northants
| Author: Kieran Haddock | Published: 5th June 2018 09:37 |
Cllr Ian Morris, county council cabinet member for transport, highways, environment and public protection, said: “The theme for this year’s Scams Awareness Month is ‘Don’t miss a trick, be scam aware’. Our Trading Standards team work hard to raise awareness of increasingly sophisticated fraud and help Northamptonshire residents spot the signs of scams.People in Northamptonshire are being asked to play their part and report scams as part of the national Scams Awareness Month campaign.
Northamptonshire County Council’s Trading Standards, in partnership with Citizens Advice are warning residents to be vigilant against clever financial and legal cons, following a rise in cases across the country.
New data reveals a total of 1,200 financial and legal scams were reported to Citizens Advice in the year ending April 2018 – a 6% increase on the year before. The total annual loss to consumers for all types of scams is nearly £11billion.
An increasingly-common type of scam involves consumers falling prey to online investments, including cryptocurrency and stocks and shares – which turn out not to exist.
There has also been a rise in bogus solicitors and fraudulent holiday timeshare scams, often pretending that household names have endorsed the company to give it some legitimacy.
Cllr Ian Morris, county council cabinet member for transport, highways, environment and public protection, said: “The theme for this year’s Scams Awareness Month is ‘Don’t miss a trick, be scam aware’. Our Trading Standards team work hard to raise awareness of increasingly sophisticated fraud and help Northamptonshire residents spot the signs of scams.
“Scammers can make for convincing white collar professionals, especially online, and are skilled at persuading people they are legitimate.
“The stakes are high with financial and legal scams as you can end up losing your savings or pension fund, which can put your long-term financial stability at risk.
“Unfortunately, people are as likely to be conned through bogus emails and websites, as they are from unsolicited telephone calls and visits to their home.
“When you get approached about any investment, don’t rush into anything without making sure it’s legitimate first, particularly when you’re contacted out of the blue.
“There is no shame in being duped, and reporting it can prevent other people falling prey to scams and fraud.”
Northamptonshire Trading Standards is calling on the public to be more aware of how they could be scammed, and to report it if they get caught out.
The advice to watch out for legal and financial scams is:
- Be suspicious if you’re contacted out of the blue, even if it’s from a name you recognise
- Never give out your bank details unless you are certain you can trust the person contacting you
- Don’t be rushed – you never need to make a decision straight away
- If it sounds too good to be true it probably is
- Genuine computer firms do not make unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer
- Suspect a scam? Hang up, wait five minutes to clear the line or use another phone to call
- Never send money to someone you have never met
- Walk away from job ads that ask for money in advance
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