Residents in Gedling borough are being urged to sign up to a scheme that aims to raise awareness of scams in a bid to support and reduce the number of vulnerable local people in the area becoming victims.
An event is being held at Arnold Library this Wednesday (July 19) to explain to residents how to spot a scam and avoid becoming a victim.
Nottinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards team said they received 224 reports of scams in the last twelve months and the authority is using Scams Awareness Month this July to promote the ‘Friends Against Scams’ scheme.
So far 170 local people have signed up to the scheme, which involves either completing an online awareness session or attending a local workshop event at local libraries.
The average scam victim loses about £1,000 to scams and older people are 2.4 times more likely to die or go into a care home than those who are not scammed.
Scams come in many forms and can be the result of a postal, telephone or electronic communication. Examples include fictitious prize draws, false investment opportunities, fake lotteries or bogus equity release schemes.
Nottinghamshire County Council has been supporting older people and people with dementia who have become victims of mass marketing scams and has so far seized 54 stone of scam mail from victims’ homes since January 2015.
Councillor Gordon Wheeler, Vice-Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Communities and Place Committee, said: “It’s believed only five percent of scams are reported so there are many people in our communities that are suffering in silence and are not seeking the help and support they need.
“The ‘Friends Against Scams’ scheme is helping to spread the word on how to spot and avoid a scam amongst local communities so we want as many people as possible to sign up to this scheme.”
To sign up to the ‘Friends Against Scams ‘scheme visit its website at www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
To report a scam contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.