July marks the start of the school summer holidays and I am sure that many of my constituents (and their children) are looking forward to a well-deserved break.
July is also ‘Scams Awareness Month’ – a national campaign to help people avoid falling prey to scams. This year’s campaign ‘Play your part, act on scams’ is focusing on tackling the underreporting and stigma in this area, which have been identified as two of the biggest issues in tacking this crime.
Scams are a serious and expensive business. The National Audit Office has estimated that £10 billion was lost in 2016 to scams and frauds.
Moreover, it is of real concern that estimates suggest that only 5 to 15% of scams are reported. This means that there are hundreds of victims of scams who are not receiving help or support. What is more, vital information and intelligence is being lost due to underreporting. The sharing of this information is critical in helping the enforcement agencies to prevent future scams.
Scams can happen to anyone. Some scams are specifically aimed at vulnerable people and groups who are sadly seen as soft targets. However, increasingly, there is recognition that victims come from all sort of different groups – including those who believe they would never be at risk. Indeed, it might come as a surprise to some that statistics show that the 40 to 60 year age group (who are ‘life established’ and often have financial assets) is most affected by scams. There is also evidence to suggest that the number of under 25s (many of whom are ‘digital natives’) falling victim to scams has sharply increased, whilst Citizens Advice research worryingly suggests that more that 50% of this age group are unlikely to report it.
In the modern world, scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Sadly, I have been approached by a number of constituents who have been the victims of scams. They have been normal, hardworking and decent people who have been shocked to fall victim to these crimes. I have seen first-hand the terrible damage – both financial and emotional – that can be caused. I have also seen the embarrassment and shame that victims feel, despite the fact that blame should be squarely placed on the perpetrators of these distressing crimes.
So, as you think about the summer stretching ahead, please take a moment to reflect this Scams Awareness Month and to educate and spread awareness to those around you – to your friends, partners, parents, neighbours and children. We must speak more openly and remove the stigma if we want to see real change.
If you or anyone you know is worried about scams then you can:
- Report scams or suspected scams to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040)
- Seek advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service (03454 040506) who can provide advice and pass details on to trading standards