Scam awareness surgeries
31 January 2012
People in Norfolk will be able to get advice on how to spot a
scam during February, as part of Scams Awareness Month.
Norfolk County Council has organised surgeries in thirteen
locations, as well as offering an online questions and answers
session. The surgeries offer an opportunity for residents to learn
from Trading Standards about how they can best protect themselves
from scams, whilst also providing a forum to discuss scams that
they have either received or been caught out by.
Surgery timetable
| Date |
Time |
Location |
| Wednesday 1 February |
12 to 4pm |
Norwich and West Norfolk Citizens Advice Bureau, St Vedast
House, St Vedast Street, Norwich |
| Friday 3 February |
9.30 to 11.30am |
Co-op Store, Mere Street, Diss |
| Monday 6 February |
10am to 12.30pm |
West Norfolk Council Information Centre, Kings Court, Chapel
Street, King’s Lynn. |
| Thursday 9 February |
10am to 12.30pm |
Great Yarmouth Library, Tolhouse Street, Great
Yarmouth |
| Monday 13 February |
10.30am to 12.30pm |
Roundwell Medical Practice, Longwater Lane, Costessey |
| Tuesday 14 February |
9.15 to 10.45am |
Loddon Country Market, The Hollies, High
Street, Loddon
|
| Wednesday 15 February |
9.30 to 11.30am |
Co-op Store, High Street, Watton. |
| Saturday 18 February |
10am to 12.30pm |
Millennium Library, The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich. |
| Monday 20 February |
10.30 to 11.30am |
Hanover Gardens, Cuckofield Lane, Mulbarton. |
| Tuesday 21 February |
12.30 to 4.30pm: |
Online surgery at www.norfolk.gov.uk/scams |
| Thursday 23 February |
9.30 to 11.30am |
Acle Library/Children’s Centre, Bridewell Lane, Acle. |
| Friday 24 February |
2 to 4pm |
Upwell Village Hall, New Road, Upwell, Wisbech. |
| Monday 27 February |
9.30 to 11.30am |
Herbie’s Community Drop-in, Salvation Army, Tolhouse Street,
Great Yarmouth |
| Tuesday 28 February |
10am to 2pm |
Millennium Library, The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich |
| Wednesday 29 February |
10am to 1pm |
Thetford Library, Raymond Street, Thetford. |
Residents unable to attend a Scams Surgery can also get further
advice from their local Citizens Advice Bureau or call Consumer
Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
A scam is usually uninvited (unsolicited). This means it will
come from a company or person you’ve never heard of by:
- Post – through a letter or promotional leaflet.
- Email – through a personal or promotional message ('spam
emails').
- Phone ('cold calling').
- At your door (‘cold calling’)
- Text message
A scam will:
- Give extravagant promises – if it sounds too good to be true,
it probably is.
- Ask you to pay for something upfront, eg. you have to pay a fee
to claim a prize.
- Put pressure on you to make a quick decision, eg an investment
opportunity will end unless you pay straight away.
- Ask for bank account details, so they can steal your
money.
How to deal with a scam:
- If you receive emails or letters about a scam, don't reply –
even to say no. Once scammers get a reply, they will send more
unwanted messages.
- Don't give out any personal details like your address or
'confirm' details like your bank account number over the telephone
or in response to an email.
- If you answer the door to a salesperson, ask to see their ID.
Do not feel pressured into signing or agreeing anything on the
spot. Take the paperwork away to read.
Norfolk Constabulary is supporting Norfolk Council Council
during Scams Awareness Month.
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