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14 February, 2017

Helping communities fight SCAMS

146 people from Harrogate York and Scarborough are now better equipped to fight SCAMS and FRAUD in North Yorkshire.

During the first week in February Julia Mulligan, supported the Friends against Scams campaign by running seven awareness sessions across North Yorkshire.

The Friends Against Scams campaign, run by the National Trading Standards Scams Team, aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams.

The seven sessions were split into two with the first hour dedicated to understanding what a scam is and how to spot the tell tail signs of those being scammed.

The second hour, took the knowledge from the first hour and provided the skills and resources to become a SCAMchampion and run their own awareness sessions for the people they care for.

Attendees included people from councils, NHS, fire service, police and private care organisations along with individuals who just wanted to become more scan aware.

By the end of the week North Yorkshire had:

  • 146 friends against scams
  • 104 SCAMchampions, and
  • 2 SCAMbassadors

With their new skills, the 104 SCAMchampions will now go back to their communities, looking out for the tell tail signs of victims and raising awareness amongst their colleagues and the people they care for.

Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Will Naylor were recognised as SCAMbassadors for their help in raising awareness of the Friends Against Scams campaign in North Yorkshire.

Julia Mulligan said:

“Scams and fraud was one of the top five priorities mentioned by people during the consultation for my police and crime plan so I am really pleased to be able to provide this opportunity and raise awareness of this blight on our communities.

“These types of crime don’t only have a devastating emotional effect on their victims but they also take away their life long savings and security for the future.

“I want to thank everyone who came along and took part and also to Friends Against Scams for running these events for us in North Yorkshire.”

Louise Baxter, Team Manager at the National Trading Standards Scams Team, said:

“I am really pleased that people in North Yorkshire are getting involved in the Friends Against Scams campaign and helping to ‘Take a Stand Against Scams’.

“This campaign is about protecting our communities, particularly people in vulnerable situations who are deliberately targeted by criminals, and it is great to see that people in North Yorkshire want to do exactly that.

“We hope that people will be able to take what they have learnt at the Friends Against Scams awareness session and turn knowledge into action in their community.

“I’d encourage anyone interested in stopping scams to visit the Friends Against Scams website – www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/ and sign-up.”

How you can get involved

For more information about Friends Against Scams, or to complete the online awareness session, visit: www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/

Thank you

We want to thank the following organisations for taking part in the campaign. This is not a definitive list, if your organisation is still missing, please let us know.

  • Ageis Counselling Service
  • Ulleskelf Parish Council
  • Disability Action Yorkshire
  • Gladstone Road School
  • Harrogate Easier Living Project
  • Joseph Rowntree Foundation
  • NatWest
  • Neighbourhood Watch
  • NHS Foundation Trust
  • North Yorkshire Advocacy
  • North Yorkshire County Council
  • North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
  • North Yorkshire Police
  • Red Cross
  • Ryedale District Council
  • Scarborough Borough Council
  • Stockton Hall Hospital
  • Victim Support
  • White Rose Home Improvement Agency
  • Yorkshire Coast Homes