Just what exactly is a scam?
Scams are a way of cheating people, frequently the elderly – the criminals who
operate them are sometimes also called fraudsters, swindlers or con artists.
Any one of us can fall victim to a scam – they are increasingly common and
many of us are caught out. They can be very distressing, and the impact is
often emotional as well as financial. If you’ve been the victim of a scam,
remember that you are most certainly not alone.
A scammer may try to approach you on your doorstep, by post, over the phone
or online. They’ll often pretend to be someone they’re not by making
misleading offers of services, investments or emotional promises, but you can
protect yourself by knowing what to look out for, and what to do if you suspect
a scam.
There are ways to help avoid being taken in by a scam if you know what to look
for. The detailed guide on the NEFA website, published by North East Regional
Special Operations Unit of the Police can help you and your loved ones spot
the warning signs to avoid them but also offer helplines and advice should you
fall victim.
At NEFA, we also take Scamming very seriously and we have a number of
Community Connectors and Partners currently working with us to report the
latest trends in scams through individual contact with their clients and Focus
Groups. We intend to update our Information Hub with up-to-date information
about the latest Scams.
Please Download “The Little book of Big Scams“
Stay safe.
Best wishes, NEFA