Appeal To Report Scams

Less than 5% of victims report scams to the authorities, that's according to Fife Trading Standards.

During Scams Awareness Month, we're being urged to come forward to avoid others being conned.

Dawn Adamson, Lead Trading Standards Officer explains, “Scams come in every form, from doorstep sales to online offers. 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.”

Fife Trading Standards offers the following tips for avoiding scams:

• If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
• If you haven’t bought a ticket – you can’t win it.
• You shouldn’t have to pay anything to get a prize.
• If in doubt, don’t reply. Bin it, delete it or hang up.
• Contacted out of the blue? – be suspicious.
• Don’t be rushed – resist pressure to make a decision straight away.
• Never send money to someone you’ve never met.
• Walk away from job ads that ask for money in advance.
• Your bank will never attend your home to collect cash, your pin, payment card or chequebook if you are a victim of fraud.
• Your bank will never phone you to ask for your PIN or your online banking password. 
• Your bank will never ask you to transfer money to a new account for fraud reasons.
• Suspect a phone scam? Hang up, wait five minutes to clear the line or use another phone to call your bank.
• Genuine computer firms don’t make unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer.
• Don’t suffer in silence – speak out about scams.

What to do if you have been scammed:

• Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 to help stop it happening to others.
• If you've paid for goods or services by credit card you have more protection and if you used a debit card you may be able to ask your bank for a chargeback.
• Report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland