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 personwho 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

• Complaining of not feeling well

• Depression

• Memory loss

• Confusion

• Fear they might lose their independence

• Agitation

• Withdrawal

• Suicidal intentions

Leading to situations like this

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

Doorstep Crime/Rogue Traders

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 standardsof 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• Care Direct Devon 0345 1551 007• Csc.caredirect@devon.gov.uk• Somerset Care Direct 0845 3459133• ADULTmSSD@soerset.gov.uk• 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• Bank Safe Online Email: reports@banksafeonline.org.uk • (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

ContactsFor General Public

Telephone

0345 454 040506

For Partner Agencies

Telephone

O1392 381381