Advicelink Partnership Sutton joined with Sutton Trading Standards and Sutton Police to warn people of scams and provide advice on how to avoid them.

Staff and volunteers from the ALPS organisations including Citizens Advice Sutton, Age UK and Sutton Carers Centre were out in Sutton High Street in July with Sutton Trading Standards and Sutton Police giving people information on how to avoid scams.

Information from Action Fraud  suggests that the most common frauds in London   are the sales of fake or stolen products. Other common frauds include ‘regular payment fraud’ where the fraudsters trick people into changing  a direct debit  for services such as utilities to their own account. The criminals can do this by imitating the organisation that you usually pay.  

Top Tips for avoiding scams

• If you haven’t bought a ticket – you can’t win it.
• You shouldn’t have to pay anything to get a prize.
• Contacted out of the blue – be suspicious.
• Say no to cold-call investments and pensions reviews.
• Your bank will never phone you to ask for your PIN or your online banking password.
• Genuine computer firms do not make unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer.
• Don’t deal with trades people who call at your home without an appointment. When you need a building or other service, always use a reputable company by checking for memberships of schemes such as the Safer Sutton Trader Scheme.

Steve Triner, CEO of Citizens Advice Sutton, says that “Fraudsters can sound very convincing. People should be particularly wary of any unsolicited call – if you are completely confident that the call is genuine, hang up and call back using a different number.”   Information about avoiding scams is available from Citizensadvice