Friends Against Scams

Staffordshire Trading Standards in partnership with the National Trading Standards Scams Team is committed to protecting the people of Staffordshire from becoming victims of scams through empowering communities and by stamping out scams and fraud.

www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk

Staffordshire Trading Standards is a 'Friends Against Scams Organisation' a national scheme created by National Trading Standards Scams Team to raise awareness and to provide people with information on how they can take a stand against scams with free online training.

A scam is any dishonest scheme designed to defraud, but the effects are not just limited to financial loss, its affects health, family, loss of self-confidence and increases anxiety. Each year mass marketing fraud causes up to £10,000,000,000 worth of loss to UK consumers with Doorstep crime causing as estimated £442,000,000 worth of loss (based on only 5% of reported crimes!).

What can you do?

Citizens Advice consumer helpline - 0808 223 1133 for free advice on your consumer rights and report scams.

Staffordshire Trading Standards Confidential hotline - 01785 330356 to report local doorstep crime and protect vulnerable persons.

Become a Friend Against Scams and take a stand against scams with free online training and information.

Become a Scam Marshal and take an active role in helping increase awareness and send scam mail to the NTS Scams Team so it can be investigated.

Become a Scam Champion and introduce Friends Against Scams into your local community; share awareness messages; leaflets; posters and social media content.

Get our Scam Awareness newsletter by email

If you would like to receive updates, news and information concerning scam awareness in Staffordshire, please subscribe.

#ScamAware

Think Jessica

Think Jessica is an educational documentary drama produced by Think Jessica, the charity committed to protecting elderly and vulnerable people from fraud.To read the full story about Jessica click here.

Age UK - Get a free weekly friendship call

Not having someone to talk to regularly can be lonely and isolating. Age UKs new service provides connects isolated and older people with volunteers for regular and friendly chats.

To sign up call the team on 0800 434 6105 or visit their webpage: Age UK befriending services.

How we are protecting vulnerable adults from scam phone calls

Staffordshire Trading Standards has acquired a number of call blocker devices that are loaned out, free of charge, to vulnerable adults within the county.

A call blocker sits between your home phone and wall socket and can effectively block up to 95% of nuisance and scam calls (Based on findings from a recent NTS Scams Team call blocker project).

Trading Standards will install, test and demonstrate these devices to ensure residents are happy with their call blocker. If you know someone that could benefit from one of these devices then contact Trading Standards on 01785 277 855 or email us BusinessSupportTeam@staffordshire.gov.uk.

Useful information and contacts

Loan Sharks

Loan sharks are illegal moneylenders who often charge very high interest rates. You can check if a company is authorised to lend money and report loan sharks anonymously.