Scams on the rise as half of Scots targeted

THE number of mass-marketing swindles attempting to trick people into handing over money is increasing with almost half of Scots having been targeted, consumer experts have warned.

A report published today by Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) states only five per cent of scams are reported by their victims, which it says gives the fraudsters the confidence to keep going.

CAS spokesman Matt Lancashire called for greater public vigilance around the problem.

He said: “Scam cases – where people deliberately lie to con people out of money – are among the most distressing cases that Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) advisers see.

“We want to call today for every single person in the country to increase their vigilance and stand up to those who act like this. It’s time to declare war on scams.”

He said that eight per cent of those targeted by fraudsters will fall victim to the scam, which in extreme cases can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, and costs the UK economy an estimated £30 billion a year.

The CAS report said that the psychological impact of scams on their victims “can be devastating”.

“They can rob people of their entire life savings and can damage their emotional well-being. Victims often keep the fact they have fallen for a con a secret due to feelings of embarrassment and shame. This secrecy can cause estrangement from family and friends and isolation from society.”

The report, Crime of Persuasion – Scams and their Victims, was compiled in the last three months with CAS surveying 600 Scottish clients about the issue.

The top three scams identified in the report were tricking people into “switching” to more expensive gas or electricity suppliers; so-called “debt management” companies that offer to relieve people of their debts but leave them worse off than before; and scams that claim the victim has won a prize but demand an administration fee before they can receive it.

The report also dismisses suggestions that the elderly are the most vulnerable to scams, revealing that the highest percentage of victims are those aged 35 to 44.

However, the survey shows that the over-65s are the group most likely to be targeted repeatedly by fraudsters.

The CAS claims that the increasing sophistication of the scams now means anyone could be a target.

Internet expert Olly Mann said that the advent of Twitter had made it easier for scams: “The most cunning scheme that’s been going viral recently is people very easily working somebody’s friend network and then sending them a message with a link. People open these from their e-mail boxes, which takes them to what looks like a Twitter log-in page, but it’s not.

“By filling in this page, these people get your password, and because people tend to duplicate their passwords across several sites, it could give them access to your Facebook page, bank account, credit card account or e-mails.”

In the next phase of the campaign, all Scottish CABs will be working closely with their local Trading Standards Officers to crack down on the scams that are operating in their individual areas.