In a bid to alert consumers about scams, the TSS team will visit Ballymena, as part of its ongoing series of Scam Awareness Roadshows across Northern Ireland. The team will be at the Fairhill Shopping Centre in Ballymena on Thursday 20 March to offer advice and guidance and provide a free information pack on how to spot a scam.
Around 500 scam mailings were received during Scams Awareness Month 2008 (February), when Northern Ireland consumers were asked to send such mail they received to TSS. While the mail received included many one-off mailings, some consumers who responded to the TSS appeal sent 30 to 40 mailings relating to different scams, showing how individuals can be repeatedly targeted.
Trading Standards Officer Kevin McNamara says: “From the scam mailings received during Scams Awareness Month, we now have a better picture of the type and extent of scams targeting Northern Ireland consumers. Every scam mailing returned to us means one less victim, and through the Scam Awareness Roadshows we aim to further raise awareness.
“Scammers use many methods to try to con you, for example official-sounding names or positions, references to ‘official’ organisations – anything that might overcome feelings of uncertainty. They use artificial deadlines to create a sense of urgency, designed to encourage you to respond before you have time to think things through.
“By knowing the tricks scammers use you can avoid becoming the next victim.”
If you think you or a family member or friend may have been the victim of a scam, report it to Consumerline. The Consumerline team will be happy to advise on any consumer issues - call 0845 600 6262 or access the Consumerline website 
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Notes to Editors:
1. Scams Awareness Month was part of an international initiative organised by the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network. The Office of Fair Trading has enlisted the support of local Trading Standards Services (including DETI’s Trading Standards Service), Consumer Direct, the Advertising Standards Authority and other consumer and industry bodies.
2. The key message of the campaign is that as scams have become more sophisticated, new methods are being used to ‘get smart with scammers’, including using new European laws, including the Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulations, closer co-operation with authorities, as well as ‘name and shaming’ companies and individuals.
3. Recent research commissioned by the Office of Fair Trading involving 11,200 interviews has found that 1,388,000 UK consumers fall victim to prize draw and sweepstake scams, 400,000 to bogus holiday clubs, 330,000 to work at home scams, 200,000 to miracle health scams, 170,000 to clairvoyant and psychic scams and 110,000 to loan scams. A copy of the research is available on the Office of Fair Trading website .
4. Last month, Trading Standards asked consumers to collect any scam mailings they receive during February and send them to the Trading Standards Service at 176 Newtownbreda Road, Belfast, BT8 6QS. The TSS team will be at Fairhill Shopping Centre, Ballymena, on Thursday 20 March from 9.00am until 5.00pm.
5. For media enquiries please contact the DETI Press Office, telephone 028 9052 9297.
6. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
