'Don't Stay Silent' Over Scams

Fifers are being advised to watch out for scams this summer.

The number of fake emails, phone calls, letters and doorstep fraudsters is on the rise, and their methods are changing frequently. But less than 5% of people who fall victim to a scam report it to the authorities.

Scams Awareness Month launched on July 1st and will be highlighting how scams continue to flourish when people stay silent.  The campaign is asking people to keep two things in mind when they receive an unsolicited approach or when they are looking for goods or services: don't be rushed and don't be hushed. People should take their time to make a decision and get their facts together before parting with their money or personal information, and speak out when they think they've spotted a scam.

Alan Hamilton, Service Manager at Fife Trading Standards, says: "Scams thrive on silence. Fraudsters know that victims are often too ashamed to share what happened to them, meaning that scams can continue to spread unchecked. We're urging people to lift the lid on scams and start talking about suspicious email, junk mail, online ads or door-to-door sellers operating in their area. 

"Scams are run by professional con artists and it can be very hard to know what to look out for. Our advice is that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you're contacted out of the blue be on your guard, and never give your bank details out unless you are certain you know who the person is, and that you can trust them."