LOCALS WARNED AS SCAMS CAMPAIGN GETS UNDERWAY
THE recent launch of this year's Scams Awareness Campaign came with a direct warning to residents of the wider Dromore, Dromara and Kinallen areas.
That warning came from Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, who urged constituents in those areas to be alert for scams in coming months. Mr. Donaldson welcomed Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster's launch of a Trading Standards Service 2010 Scams Awareness campaign in Northern Ireland.
The annual campaign highlights the increasingly sophisticated and manipulative tactics employed by scammers in targeting the unsuspecting.
New Office of Fair Trading research has revealed the scale of mass-marketed scams in the UK; aimed at misleading people into parting with their cash, they arrive by post, email, text, phone and the internet.
It's estimated that around one in 11 adults has responded to a scam at some time in their life, nearly a third of their number losing money.
Calling on local residents to be "extremely suspicious" in coming months, Mr. Donaldson said, "Every day hundreds of people are being targeted by scammers," said Mr. Donaldson. "Within the last 12 months it is estimated that one in 25 adults has responded to a scam and around half of those scammed have lost more than 50.
"Through the Scam Awareness Campaign, Trading Standards hope to make individuals aware of the variety of scams out there and the lengths that con-artists will go to, to separate people from their hard-earned money."
The public is being asked to help combat scammers by sending any scam mailings they receive during February to the Trading Standards Service at 176 Newtownbreda Road, Belfast, BT8 6QS.
Anyone who receives a large volume of scam mailings can contact Consumerline on 0845 600 6262 and arrange for them to be collected.
During Scams Awareness Month, TSS will also take roadshows across Northern Ireland to warn the public.
Consumers who suspect a scam or feel they have been the victim of one, should contact Consumerline on 0845 600 6262 or 028 9025 3900 or alternatively log onto the Consumerline website at http://www.consumerline.org.
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Weather for Dromore
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
