Pendle News Room

Research shows that the majority of us have encountered a scam and over a third of people had been targeted five or more times.

But seven out of 10 people targeted by a scam don’t tell anyone about it.

This year’s Scam Awareness Month aims to encourage people to report scams by highlighting why and how to do it.

It also focuses on legal and financial scams following a rise in cases reported to the Citizens Advice consumer service.

These include:

• fake websites claiming to offer cryptocurrency investments, like Bitcoin
• scammers posing as stockbrokers who get you to place bets on whether phoney shares will raise or fall within a certain date
• a promise to buy your holiday timeshare for an advanced fee
• scammers intercepting emails from a legitimate solicitor and posing as them todivert money into their bank.

Councillor David Whipp, Chairman of Pendle Community Safety Partnership, said: “Anyone can be a victim of a scam.

“Scammers can strike at any time, from cold-calling people with a fake investment opportunity to posting online adverts for products which don’t exist.

“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.

“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.

“We want to make sure you have the information you need to become scam aware so you can protect yourselves and others.

“By reporting that you’ve been scammed you can receive advice on how to try and get your money back or any other steps you should take to protect yourself and others.”

Anyone who requires advice and support on scams should contact the Citizen's Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 in the first instance.

Scams can also be reported to Action Fraud, the national fraud reporting centre on their website www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Think:                                                        

• Be suspicious if you’re contacted out of the blue, even if it’s from a name you recognise
• Don’t be rushed – you never need to make a decision straight away
• If it sounds too good to be true it probably is
• Never send money to someone you have never met
• Never give out your bank details unless you are certain you can trust the person contacting you
• Walk away from job ads that ask for money in advance
• 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
• Persuasive sales patter? Just say: “No Thank You”
• Don’t suffer in silence – speak out about scams