You’ve got the tools to stay safe from scams
East Renfrewshire Council’s Trading Standards team has launched a new financial harm toolkit to help residents stay safe and avoid scams.
The toolkit has a number of simple steps people can take to protect themselves, family members, clients or neighbours from fraud.
The scams awareness toolkit aims to empower residents to avoid unnecessary personal and financial harm, with a particular emphasis placed on protecting residents in vulnerable situations.
Created as a self- help area, it contains a wealth of useful information on many areas including doorstep crime, email scams, unwanted mail, online shopping, Covid- 19 scams, financial abuse, power of attorney and much more.
With a host of useful links and websites included to help guide the user to safety, the toolkit also covers scam prevention tailored to protecting residents living with cognitive impairment/dementia, financial abuse of the elderly and what to do if you are receiving nuisance phone calls.
Councillor Alan Lafferty, convener for the environment, said: “The council’s Trading Standards team have provided a wealth of knowledge and guidance with this new toolkit.
“It will be a welcomed resource for residents across the area and I’m sure it will help us all to avoid the increasing number of scams that are now circulating.
“In the UK alone, it is estimated that over £190 billion is lost to acts of fraud per year, with an estimated £ 9 billion lost by individuals, so this toolkit is an absolutely essential way to help protect our residents from financial losses.”
To view the toolkit visit www. eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/prevention
Anyone who has been a victim of a scam should report it to Trading Standards via Advice Direct Scotland by calling 0808 800 9060 or visiting consumer advice. scot
The Trading Standards team also offers bespoke solutions tailored to individuals, families or local community group’s circumstances, including call blockers.
To discuss support email tradingstandards@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0141 577 8487.
It will help us all to avoid the increasing number of scams now circulating