Burnham-On-Sea’s MP James Heappey has this week joined with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau to support Scam Awareness Month.
The initiative aims to provide support for those local people who have been scammed and protect people from being caught out.
James said: “Raising awareness of the types of scams that exist is vital; it is all too easy to accidentally fall victim to the very sophisticated conning techniques that are being employed.”
“The more that people feel informed about the methods that are being used the less likely they are to become a victim.”
“In Devon and Somerset over 4000 people have been caught out, the majority being elderly and vulnerable, and we must do everything possible to protect others from suffering the same misfortune.”
“Initiatives like this are a great way to let people know about the support and advice that is available via organisations like the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.”
Nick Hubbard, from Sedgemoor CAB, said: “The key things to remember are if it seems too good to be true – it probably is. Also, treat unexpected calls or offers with suspicion, particularly if they seem too good to be true.”
“Never send money to someone you haven’t met. Your bank will not ask you for your PIN or your online banking password. Your bank will not ask you to transfer money to a new account for reasons of fraud. If you suspect a ‘phone scam’ – hang up and wait for 5 minutes for the line to clear. Genuine computer companies do not make unsolicited calls to offer to fix your computer.”
