Help is at hand for anyone struggling with nuisance phone calls, or wanting to better protect themselves from scammers trying to con you out of money online via email and messaging, or on the doorstep
- Trading Standards can help and support with any kind of scam, and are currently inviting people to nominate themselves or someone they think is vulnerable to scam phone calls to receive a free call-blocker to help protect them – contact them on 01595 744887.
- Shetland Islands Citizens Advice Bureau are there to provide advice, help and support on many issues – give them a call on 01595 694696.
- If you have any concerns about the safety and welfare of an adult at risk please contact Adult Social Work on 01595 744468. Out of office hours (before 9am and after 5pm), weekends and public holidays please contact 01595 695611.
- Police Scotland is the 24/7 place to report any fraud or scam in which you have lost money – phone them on 101 (or 999 in an emergency).
- You should also get in touch with your bank, so that they can try to recover the money and help you to prevent any further loss.
- You can pick up a free Scam Advice pack from the council offices at 8 North Ness, or phone 01595 744887 to get one sent out to you, to help you learn more – the pack contains information about dealing with lots of scams, including a sticker to show that you don’t want uninvited sales people coming to your door.
Tam Baillie, Chair of the Shetland Public Protection Committee, said: “The work of our Scambusters! Shetland partnership goes on throughout the year, but Police Scotland are currently receiving unusually high numbers of reports of scam banking calls to people in Shetland, with worrying numbers of folk being caught out and defrauded out of thousands of pounds. We want to remind people of the organisations who can provide help and support – all working together, and with a particular concern for vulnerable adults.”