More than GBP 3.5billion lost out to con artists each year
Con artists are fiddling elderly and vulnerable people in Slough & the South East out of £3.5billion a year, according to trading standards research.
During Slough Borough Council’s trading standards investigations, more than £21,200 has been stolen from residents by confidence tricksters and the total is rising every day.
For the first time the Office of Fair Trading, in partnership with Slough council’s trading standards services, has launched a targeted campaign in the south east, with Slough’s council dedicating a ‘scambuster’ team to tackle rogue traders and cons in the borough.
Some of the swindles in Slough include –
• One resident loosing £20,000 to a made up Spanish Lottery, Lotteria Primativia, and was even pushed for more money until the victim reported the con. The company then started to use the National Lottery Euro Millions logo.
• Slough Residents being asked via e-mail to give their bank details to assist in a money transfer from Nigeria.
• Residents receiving phone calls from tricksters masquerading as a representative from their credit card company to obtain bank details. A total loss of £497.99
• Residents being bombarded with multiple award or winning letters where money is asked for before the prize can be collected
• A holiday club con where people sign up and pay for membership but nothing transpires. Loss £363.68.
Luckily, with both the holiday scam and the credit card con, residents received their money back thanks to Slough trading standards.
But not everyone is so lucky, as Peter Adshead, senior trading standards officer for Slough Borough Council, explains: “There are many people out there who have fallen victim to con artists and some may feel too embarrassed to come forward and report them.
“Instead they suffer in silence and the fraudsters get away with their money. We always urge people who have been scammed to speak to us. They will not be judged. Anyone can become a victim.
“Even if you haven’t been swindled out of cash but think you have been contacted either by a telephone call or letter, then please let us know. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Cllr John Edwards, commissioner for Slough public protection, added: “It is terrible what some people will do to part others of their hard earned cash, and they must be stopped.
“The key thing to do is stop, think and think again. If you receive an offer promising you something for nothing, then it is too good to be true. Call the trading standards team and they will advise you on what to do.”
Recent research by the OFT revealed that every year one in fifteen people (3.2 million adults) fall victim to scams across the UK with the average amount lost per scam being £850.
For further information or advice, please contact Slough Borough Council’s trading standards team on 01753 875255.
Slough Borough Council