SUFFOLK TRADING STANDARDS Who are Trading Standards Suffolk

SUFFOLK TRADING STANDARDS

Who are Trading Standards? Suffolk Trading Standards is part of Suffolk County Council. We are placed within the Public Health & Protection Directorate. Our role is to protect consumers and traders in Suffolk by : • enforcing government legislation (UK and EU) • Offering advice to consumers (via Citizens Advice Consumer Service Helpline) • Providing advice and inspections for businesses • investigating offences and prosecuting offenders

What work does Suffolk Trading Standards cover? Examples of our work include: • Age restricted sales / Illegal tobacco • Weights and Measures – pubs/petroleum • Fair Trading – doorstep incidents / scams /NCCZ • Explosives - fireworks • Product safety – consumer products - e. g. electricals, • • imported goods at docks Food standards – labelling /composition Intellectual property – counterfeit goods Animal feed - crops Animal health & welfare – animal movement and disease control

We are working to achieve a fair and safe trading environment, and informed, confident consumers.

Our work with adults in need of care /support in the fair trading environment • Protect consumers from becoming victims of crime – utilising our doorstep rapid response system • Setting up No Cold Calling Zones • Work with Police, Social Care, banks and the Court system • We actively prosecute rogue traders who target vulnerable consumers • We support victims of financial abuse (scams)with reassurance, education and removal of scam mail/products.

What is a scam? ? ? It’s a FRAUD – criminal activity and financial abuse. Designed to persuade consumers to part with their money. Usually offering a win or prize – neither of which exist. Offering “miracle” products that may be unsafe. Offering “exclusive or luxury” products that aren’t ! Offering a link to a dearly departed relative via clairvoyance, mediumship etc. • Offering a relationship – by email, Facebook, Skype • • • All of the above for a “reasonable” fee !! Can be by post, phone or email.

Who is a scam victim?

How do I know if someone is a victim?

Suffolk TSD is working with national team to stamp out scams – with the focus being on mail scams

In Suffolk…. . • We began our dedicated scams project in 2014; there were over 1, 500 MAIL scam victims identified; and we contacted all in writing. • We were able to return cheques to some consumers thanks to work with the National Team and Royal Mail who intercepted the fraudulent transactions. • We gave tailored advice to consumers and conducted home visits. • And our work continues…….

In Suffolk……. • • • We have already completed : Over 132 personal visits – more to come. Over 122 consumers have been advised by phone. Over 284 consumers sent scam information by post. Approx 500 kg of scam products have been removed from consumers homes. Installation of 26 phone call blocking devices for the most vulnerable. 25 partnership events with external agencies eg. banks, CAB – and this is increasing as scams awareness increases. Training our colleagues and partners with County Council and Health. Publicity campaigns e. g Scamnesty, Scams Month etc. Strong social media presence – alerts are sent out weekly to Consumer Champions and interested parties.

How does scamming affect consumers? This is scam mail removed from 1 consumer’s home

Dealing with scam mail becomes an obsession, a way of life

Scam products removed from one consumer’s home This box was the result of 1 visit to the premises. We also removed 8 burn bags full of scam mail.

We had to revisit the same consumer on another 2 occasions, where we ended up removing further products that had been hidden in a disused fridge.

Consumers don’t focus on their own wellbeing, pursuing the prize is their priority

But there are other types of scam/fraud/financial abuse Telephone scams • Investment scams • Technical Support scams • Bank account courier scams Online scams • Phishing emails • Dating scams • Social media scams • Survey scams Doorstep scams • Rogue Traders • Bogus Officials • Fake charity collections

What happens to victims? • Many become estranged from family/carers. • They become isolated and secretive. • They run out of money and end up depending on the state for support – care and housing. • They become stressed/obsessed/ ill and end up depending on the NHS for further health support.

We need to work together to support victims and prevent this fraud and financial abuse of the most vulnerable.

What are we doing about it? • Consumer and business education. • Supporting adults in need of care/support – removing scam products, working with families to close down bank accounts etc. • Making referrals and working with Police, Health & Social Care. • Working with National Scams Team to disrupt scammers. • Training and learning events – eg. our Join the Fight Conference. • Making sure that Suffolk has a robust approach to scams – we will not tolerate scammers!

Raising Awareness with our partners Partnership working: • Police, Victim Support, Social Care, Health services, Fire Service , Citizens Advice Bureaux, the public, banks, the media

So how can you help?

Consumer Champion Network Consumer Champions are expected to: • learn about what's happening in Suffolk • share information with their community • report details of concerns back to Trading Standards Consumer Champions can be anyone who wants to help and who cares about their community.

Thank you for your attention. • If you have further queries, please contact Suffolk Trading Standards on 01473 264859 • Like us on Facebook www. facebook. com/Suffolk. Trading. Standards • Follow us on Twitter - @Suffolk. TS • If you have a consumer complaint, please contact our partners at Citizen’s Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 - 040506