Scams advice on offer in Shrewsbury on Monday 23 May

Shropshire Council’s public protection team is holding a drop-in session in Shrewsbury town centre on Monday 23 May to offer advice on how to avoid and combat scams.

The event is being held on the ground floor of the Darwin Shopping Centre from 9am to 2pm.

It’s estimated that 6.5 per cent of the UK adult population – some 3.2 million people – fall victim to scams every year. The most common age of scam victims is 35 to 44, though older victims are more likely to lose larger sums of money and be repeatedly scammed.

Research estimates that UK consumers lose about £3.5 billion to scams every year.

Chronic Scam Victims who are repeatedly targeted by scammers are of particular concern and they often lose many thousands of pounds. Chronic Scam Victims are usually elderly, socially isolated and in declining mental health. The impact of these scams is not only financial but they have a detrimental impact on the health of older and at risk people.

Alongside Shropshire Council’s public protection team, the following partners will be attending the event on Monday

• National Trading Standards Scams Team
• Age UK
• Royal Bank of Scotland
• Smartwater
• We don’t buy crime
• Victim support (from 12 till 1)
• West Mercia Police
• Fire Service (vulnerable adults team)
• True Call
• Solon Security