Trading Standards backs new Action Fraud initiative
The Highland Council’s Trading Standards office is warning locals to be wary of phone scams.
THE Highland Council’s Trading Standards office is advocating the use of a new national fraud service to help stop con artists luring locals with an insurance claim.
Several readers have been in contact with North of Scotland Newspapers regarding a scam involving repeated calls from representatives claiming to be from the ministry of justice.
The cold callers quote TV programmes such as Watchdog in the pretence of talking about reclaiming payment protection insurance, which covers people in certain circumstances when they end up unable to pay a debt.
Trading Standards team leader David MacKenzie said there are a few steps that can be taken in order to avoid falling for a con.
"Some of these claim management calls are complete scams where people are trying to cheat you out of money for no service," he said.
"Basically, our advice would be if you think it is a scam then put the phone down and report it to a new organisation called Action Fraud."
Action Fraud is the UK’s new national fraud reporting centre run by the National Fraud Authority – the government agency that helps to co-ordinate the fight against fraud in the UK.
It provides a central point of contact for information about cons. Mr MacKenzie said many fraud cases are dealt with internationally because most are based outside of the UK, and this is where Action Fraud and its network of partners comes into play.
More information is available online at www.actionfraud.org.uk