Transcript SCAMS and DOORSTEP CRIME Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service What is the definition of a Scam: “Misleading or deceptive business practice where a person.

SCAMS and DOORSTEP
CRIME
Devon and Somerset Trading
Standards Service
What is the definition of a Scam:
“Misleading or deceptive business practice
where a person receives an unsolicited or
uninvited contact (for example by email,
letter, phone or advertisement) and false
promises are made to con the person out of
money.”
Mass-marketing scams are a
huge problem and have
become more prevalent
internationally
Facts and figures
• 48% of people in the UK have been
targeted by a scam
• 3.2m people fall victim every year
• £3.5bn is lost to scammers every year
• 3.2 million people fall victim, losing more
than £3.5 billion
There are many reasons why people reply to scams
• Elderly
• Socially isolated, lonely
• Have declining mental
health such as dementia
• In financial trouble
• In desperate need of a job
• Feel pressured or forced
to reply
• Be lonely
• Be bored
• Be caught off guard
Recently widowed or
divorced and new at
handling their personal
finances
• Find decision-making
difficult as a result of
health issues.
Tactics used
• They may have received a small sum of
money, and that their involvement will
eventually pay off.
• The scammer has become their confidant,
rescuer, romancer, friend or claimed they
are from a trusted organisation.
• They are afraid because the scammer has
threatened them.
• They believe whomever they spoke to
most recently.
How can you identify a person
who is a repeat victim of scams?
• Final bill notices that are often left
unopened.
• Disconnected gas or electricity
• Inadequate heating in their home
• Rent or mortgage arrears
• Council tax fines
• Court summons
• No food in their cupboards
Key indicators
• Poor personal hygiene
• Piled-up washing
• Gathered waste and rubbish, including
scam mail or junk gifts
• Untidy and unclean living areas
• House in poor condition.
• Inability to pay for care
Other indicators
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Complaining of not feeling well
Depression
Memory loss
Confusion
Fear they might lose their independence
Agitation
Withdrawal
Suicidal intentions
Leading to situations like this
Doorstep Crime/Rogue Traders
Cold Callers offering:
• Driveways – Block paving/tarmac
• Fascias/Guttering/Repairs
• Roofing Work
• Garden Services
• Wills/funeral Plans
• Burglar Alarms
• Carpet Cleaning
• Charity Clothing Collectors
• Furniture sales – Mattresses
How to reduce the crime
• Offer consumers
door stickers
There is evidence
that people with a
sticker are less likely
to agree to a doorstep
seller.
Rogue traders
Increased protection for consumers.
• Consumer Protection Laws provide a
minimum 14 day cooling off period for
contracts concluded away from business
premises where they are over £42.
• No consumer should be pressurised into
agreeing to a contract on the doorstep.
Rogue Traders
Devon & Somerset Trading Standards
Service runs the Buy With Confidence
Trading Standards Approved Scheme to
promote the highest standards
of trading for the
benefit of both
consumers and
businesses.
Report safeguarding issues.
• This from a community nurse “This
happened to one of my patients. I phoned
her family, her GP and Social Services but
because she was considered 'of sound
mind' there was absolutely nothing anyone
could do about it. Her family tried to take
her cheque book from her but she would
not allow it. It was heart breaking to hear
her excitement when she told me about
yet another 'win' she was in line for.”
Public Enquiry
• Safeguarding Adult Reviews regularly
state that “ if professionals had acted on
their concerns or sought more information
the death or serious harm might have
been prevented
What else is new ?
• Pensions Reform April 2015
• Largest ever shake up – no requirement to
buy annuity
• Over 55 Access to Pension to spend how
they see fit
• Poor Advice from Financial Advisors
• Rogue Investment schemes
Challenges
• Early sharing of information
• Awareness of information sharing
protocols- take advice
• How do we identify and record a chronic
victim of Financial Abuse ( including where
we have never visited the consumer)
• We may be the only Local Authority Officer
to visit.
How can we support victims ?
• Buy with confidence, Trading Standards
approved trader scheme.
• Mail/Telephone Preference Schemes
• Telephone options – international calls/call
blocking
• Mail redirection
• Financial institution advice
• Partnership Approach
Scams can be reported to:
• CAB (Citizens Advice
Bureau)
• Action Fraud
• The Trading
Standards Service
• The local Police
• The National Scams
Team
• Adult Safeguarding
Team
• The National Fraud
Authority
• The National Crime
Agency
• Think Jessica
• Citizens Advice
Consumer Service
Contacts
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Care Direct Devon 0345 1551 007
[email protected]
Somerset Care Direct 0845 3459133
[email protected]
Visit the Trading Standards Website
www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk
Follow us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/tsconnected
• For Trading Standards Approved Local Traders
www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk
• For Consumer Advice call the Citizens Advice
Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06
Helpful websites
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Bank Safe Online Email: [email protected]
(forward any suspicious scam emails): Website: www.banksafeonline.org.uk
Card Watch Website: www.cardwatch.org.uk
Gov UK Website: www.gov.uk
Get safe online Website: www.getsafeonline.org.uk
Citizens Advice Website: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Identity theft Website: www.identitytheft.org.uk
Think Jessica Campaign Website: www.thinkjessica.com
Mail Preference Service Phone number: 0845 703 4599
www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr
Post Office advice – Scam Mail Website: www.royalmail.com
Telephone Preference Service 0845 070 0707 www.tpsonline.org.uk
Phonepay Plus Phone number: 0800 500 212 www.phonepayplus.org.uk
Contact your telephone service provider to block nuisance calls.
Redirecting post and mail collection services
Phone number: 08456 000 606 Website: www.royalmail.com
National Debtline 0808 808 4000 Website: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/
Fraud Prevention/identity protection advice: Website:
www.cifas.org.uk
Contacts
For General Public
For Partner Agencies
Telephone
0345 454 040506
Telephone
O1392 381381