Glasgow Labour MSP Anne McTaggart has thrown her support behind Scams Awareness Month, which is being run throughout May in Scotland by Citizens Advice Scotland in partnership with the Trading Standards Institute and Police Scotland. 

The campaign month has been divided into four scam-related sections: 

• Online Scams: week beginning May 5
• Mail Scams: week beginning May 12
• Telephone Scams: week beginning May 19
• Doorstep Scams: week beginning May 26

Ms McTaggart said “I’m pleased to be able to support this important campaign. I was deeply concerned to read the worrying statistic that an estimated 300,000 people fall victim to a scam every year in Scotland. Scams are cruel acts of criminality that blight lives and it is upsetting that so many people suffer them in silence. 

Scams Awareness Month is an opportunity to empower consumers and their representatives so that more people know how to spot and stop scams. It is encouraging that there was a 105% increase in reporting of scams to the Citizens Advice consumer service after Scams Awareness Month 2013 and a 14% increase in the reporting of bogus selling over the last year. I would therefore encourage as many people as possible to utilise the resources provided by Citizens Advice Scotland and ensure that they do not fall victim to a scam.” 

• Tips and resources on how to spot and stop scams at www.cas.org.uk/stopscams.
• Get online consumer advice and information at: www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland.htm
•    Check the Action Fraud alerts to common scams/frauds www.actionfraud.police.uk/news