NEW research from Citizens Advice Bromsgrove and Redditch has found 71 per cent of people in the region have been targeted by a scammer since January.
Fraudsters have tried to trick residents in a range of ways, but the biggest scam faced by local people has been delivery scams with 60 per cent of people saying they’d been contacted about a scam of this kind.
There’s also the fear of scammers, with many people saying they’re worried they or a loved one could fall victim to a scam.
To encourage people to report scams, share their experiences and look out for others, Citizens Advice Bromsgrove and Redditch have launched their annual Scams Awareness campaign.
Acting chief officer Lynne Hancock said: “A shocking number of people in Bromsgrove and Redditch have been targeted by a scammer so far this year.
“As life begins to unlock, it’s so important we all do our bit and report anything that looks like a con when we see it.
“By learning how scammers operate, and helping each other understand what to look out for, we can all work together to stop fraudsters in their tracks.“
To help stop more people losing money by these types of scams, Citizens Advice Bromsgrove & Redditch is sharing the following tips on how to spot them.
It might be a scam if:
• it seems too good to be true – for example, a holiday that’s much cheaper than you’d expect
• you suspect you’re not dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address
• you’ve been pressured to transfer money quickly or in an unusual way – like by iTunes vouchers or a transfer service
• you’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs
• you haven’t had written confirmation of what’s been agreed
If you’ve been scammed, Citizens Advice Bromsgrove & Redditch advise people to talk to their bank or card company immediately if they’ve handed over any financial and sensitive information or made a payment
• report scams like telephone, post and doorstep scams, to Citizens Advice by calling 0808 223 1133. Report online scams to the dedicated Scams Action service on 0808 250 5050 or https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/get-help-with-online-scams/
• report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040
Citizens Advice Bromsgrove and Redditch
Phone – 0808 278 7890
Monday – Friday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Email – contact us via the website www.cabr.org.uk
