Working to help beat the scammers (From Keighley News)

Working to help beat the scammers

10:00am Saturday 1st September 2012 in Keighley

Work to help older people in Keighley and across the district avoid becoming victims of scams is being stepped up.

West Yorkshire Trading Standards is to stage workshops and “community champions” will be recruited to help protect residents from fraudsters.

The Scams and Fraud Education for Residents (SAFER) initiative is being launched after the Trading Standards service successfully bid for nearly £215,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

Each year, Trading Standards receives thousands of complaints from people regarding scams, frauds and rogue traders.

SAFER will benefit an estimated 5,000 older people. A spokesman said: “Workshops will explore common scams, reveal techniques regularly used by rogue traders and work towards a better understanding of trusted trader schemes, allowing older people to build links with the local community and addressing feelings of isolation. A designated debt adviser will be on hand to assist residents who have already been victims and help participants to maximise their income.”

Around 400 volunteers will be taken on to help deliver the workshops and 250 people will be trained as community champions, to act as “eyes and ears” – identifying potential problems and keeping abreast of new scams.

Councillor Val Slater, chairman of the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Committee, said: “We know that older, vulnerable adults often fall victim to scams and frauds all too easily.

“Thanks to the Big Lottery Fund we will be able to work more closely with local communities.”