Learn to spot scammers during awareness month

Residents and businesses are being warned to steer clear of scammers to coincide with the launch of Citizens Advice Sunderland’s new office in Waterloo Place in the city centre.

The team will be on hand to offer information and guidance at the daily drop in service as well as running Facebook and Twitter campaigns as part of Scams Awareness Month – a national campaign encouraging people to report and talk about scams.

Scammers can strike at any time, from cold-calling people with a fake investment opportunity to posting online adverts for products which don’t exist.

With so many people shopping online to compare deals, scammers are using numerous tactics to target people with phantom goods.

They are drawing people in with cut-price deals and then persuading people to buy items with phoney recommendations from customers.

These events aim to get more people reporting scams so the authorities can chase down fraudsters.

Reporting being scammed also means that people can receive advice on how to try and get their money back.

Denise Irving, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Sunderland, said: “Knowing how to spot a scam is the best line of defence against being scammed. While scammers will always use tactics like cut-price deals and pressure selling to draw people in, there are more ways for scammers to reach people with different bogus offers - from texts and emails to social media and online adverts. People will be able to take away a few key tips from the event which will help protect them against a of range of different scams.

“People are also often reluctant to talk about scams so we want to bring the issue out into the open and raise as much awareness as possible.”

The drop in service is open 9.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday or call 0300 330 1194.