Young people in Staffordshire are being supported to recognise and protect themselves against a growing range of scams.
The Young Friends Against Scams campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks faced by teenagers and young adults and equip them with the confidence and skills to avoid becoming victims.
The initiative highlights scams commonly targeting younger people, which includes those linked to social media, gaming and online shopping. Scams that could affect their families and communities are also being highlighted in the initiative.
One young person backing the campaign while on a work placement with Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards service is Talia.
Talia said:
“I use social media, messaging apps, online shopping and banking a lot, but it’s really hard to know what’s genuine and what’s a scam.
“I’ve seen how convincing these scams can be, like bogus concert tickets, fake photography and modelling services that promise quick exposure but just want the upfront fees, and scam online shopping websites that seem legitimate. It’s easy to be taken in if you don’t know the signs.
“Understanding what to look out for can save you a lot of money and stress.”
The campaign now wants young people to sign up as a Young Friend Against Scams and share advice and tips through their own social media channels.
Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“In our increasingly digital world, encountering scams online sadly happens all too often.
“Scammers know all the tricks in the book and their scams can be difficult to spot. Being caught up in a scam can be incredibly stressful, not to mention how much it can wreck your finances. Through this campaign, we hope to arm young people with the skills and knowledge to be able to spot scams and how to report them.
“This work is all part of our wider Community Safety strategy that aims to protect residents, particularly the most vulnerable and create a county where everyone feels safe and supported.”
Further information is available on the Friends Against Scams website.
