Sefton Council is helping to raise awareness of the impact of crimes and how people can protect themselves during International Fraud week, 12-18 November.
It is estimated that fraud costs UK citizens £10 billion per year however only around 5% of crimes are reported due to a sense of embarrassment by the victms.
Trading Standards regularly receive complaints about scams across the borough, ranging from rogue traders carrying out unnecessary, expensive and substandard building work, to individuals receiving phone calls and letters designed to trick them into providing bank details.
Fraud is often seen as a cold crime against organisations, however there are real people who suffer due to the actions of fraudsters.
It’s not just consumers that can become the victim of a scam. Businesses might receive invoices for adverts they claim they never agreed to, and others report companies offering their services work on their behalf submitting an appeal to gain a reduction in their business rates, when they know there is little chance of an appeal being successful.
Therefore, during International Fraud Week, Sefton Council are urging residents and local businesses to play their part and come forward with any concerns.
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regulation and Compliance, said: “Fraud and theft can have a huge impact on the amount of resources available to the community and we are determined to do all that we can to stop it.
“If you see anything suspicious, please report it on the Fraud hotline 08000 567 000 or via the Sefton Council website sefton.gov.uk/fraud.
“We take all reports of fraud very seriously and the information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence before any necessary action is taken.”
Join in the conversation on social media using the hashtag #FraudWeek.
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