69 in 100 people in North East England targeted by scammers so far in 2021
69% of people in North East England have been targeted by a scammer since January, new research by North Tyneside Citizens Advice has found.
Fraudsters tried to trick locals in a range of ways, but the biggest scam faced by North East locals is Delivery Scams. 59% of people in the area said they’d been contacted about a scam of this kind.
Many people in North East England say they’re worried that they or a loved one could fall victim to a scam, with 69 % saying they’re concerned this might happen.
To encourage people to report scams, share their experiences and look out for others, North Tyneside Citizens Advice have launched their annual Scams Awareness campaign.
Mark Almond, Chief Officer of North Tyneside Citizens Advice said:
“A shocking number of people in the North East have been targeted by a scammer so far this year.
“As life begins to unlock, it’s so important we all do our bit and report anything that looks like a con when we see it. By learning how scammers operate, and helping each other understand what to look out for, we can all work together to stop fraudsters in their tracks.“
To help stop more people being fleeced by these types of scams, North Tyneside Citizens Advice is sharing the following tips on how to spot them.
It might be a scam if:
- it seems too good to be true – for example, a holiday that’s much cheaper than you’d expect
- you suspect you’re not dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address
- you’ve been pressured to transfer money quickly or in an unusual way – like by iTunes vouchers or a transfer service
- you’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs
- you haven’t had written confirmation of what’s been agreed
If you’ve been scammed, North Tyneside Citizens Advice advise:
- talk to your bank or card company immediately if you’ve handed over any financial and sensitive information or made a payment
- report offline scams, like telephone, post and doorstep, to Citizens Advice online or by calling 0808 223 1133. Report online scams to the dedicated Scams Action service either online or on 0808 250 5050
- report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040
