Council's scams warning

Powys County Council has issued a warning ahead of Scams Awareness Month.

Cold calls, high-pressure sales tactics and automated voicemails asking for people details are just some of the tricks scammers use to rob people of their hard earned money, Powys County Council has warned.

The council’s Trading Standards Service has issued the warning ahead of Scams Awareness Month, which is launched on Friday 1 July.  This year’s campaign is urging people to follow a three-step rule to help them stop falling prey to scams – get advice, report it and tell others about it.

Fraud victims pay a heavy price, losing billions of pounds every year. Scams targeting people by phone or post alone could cost people in the UK an estimated £5 billion each year.

Informing the authorities and warning others is the only sure fire way of stopping scams, but people can be hesitant to even tell their friends and family.

Cllr John Powell, Cabinet Member for Trading Standards, said: “Scams come in a variety of guises and we see new ones emerging all the time. However, there are common hallmarks to every scam and we’re keen to show people what to look out for so they don’t fall prey to a fraudster.

“Reporting suspicious offers and incidents of fraud is vital to getting scams closed down. If you think you’ve been contacted by a con artist or have been the victim of scam, seek advice and report it to the authorities.”

Clive Jones, the council’s Professional Lead for Trading Standards, said: “Scams are more common than most people realise and every day we hear from people who have lost money to a con-artist.  Some scams are one-offs that persuade you to part with a lump sum, while others go after your personal details so they can access your money or copy your identity.

“We’re asking people to help us tackle scams in Powys by getting to know the common signs, warning others, and reporting incidents to us so we can investigate.”

If you or someone you know has been scammed, get advice and report it to trading standards through your local Citizens Advice or by calling the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.