Scams come in many guises, but mainly at the doorstep, through the post, by phone and by e-mail. Leicestershire Trading Standards want to help residents and carers to :-

Please read the report on the recent Scambuster conference below for further information.

N.B. Leicestershire Trading Standards Service will again be taking part in the Scamnesty in February 2009, collecting scam letters from Leicestershire residents.

Delegates expressed a need for the OFT (and other central bodies) to take the lead in tackling the issue at the national level, co-ordinating the work of different agencies and providing resource material. Delegates also highlighted the importance of local delivery in ensuring that action was matched to local needs and resources.

It was also clear that we can learn from - and tap into - the numerous local models of best practice in inter-agency working in the fields of consumer protection and education. Examples include: the co-ordinated action taken on Doorstep selling and networks such as 'Homeshield' run by Sussex County Council.

Delegates expressed a need for access to more practical advice and information resources for front line practitioners to help them better understand and deal with the issue and raise awareness amongst their colleagues and clients.

Suggestions included an educational toolkit for practitioners, an advice line and training workshops.

Delegates highlighted the need for clearer messages about who scams should be reported to - and what was done with the information received. More must be done to publicise Consumer Direct's on-line reporting function and phone line (08454 04 05 06) while managing expectations about the ability of the OFT and other enforcement agencies to follow-up individual cases.

A key issue is how we provide the emotional and practical support needed by Chronic Scams Victims. Again the importance of inter-agency working was highlighted and the requirement for a clear understanding as to who people could be referred to.

We are convening a smaller group of organisations to form a working group. The group will be a forum to consult on campaign plans and how regions can input. It will also ensure that we use the right channels to get the information out to partners, and take forward some of the issues raised at the conference.

Unfortunately, we can't include everyone, but we have tried to invite organisations who represent as many stakeholders as possible.  We will also be setting up a dedicated email address for the submission of further ideas and suggestions to us.

The OFT already produces a range of awareness raising material (including leaflets, posters and DVDs) freely available to partners. It is likely that we will be reviewing the content of some of this material over the next few months, partly in response to feedback raised at the conference about the type of information needed by practitioners and consumers.

Many of you will already be aware of the OFT's annual Scams Awareness Month (SAM) in February. SAM is part of the UK's contribution to the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) international fraud prevention month.

In last year’s Scams Awareness Month the OFT organised a nationwide Scamnesty, in partnership with over 60 Local Authority Trading Standards Services. Members of the public were asked to collect any potential scam mailings they had received and drop them into designated 'Scamnesty' bins or boxes at local libraries and other public areas across the country.

The event generated extensive coverage in the national and local media, largely thanks to the work of Local Authority Trading Standards Services and other partners in promoting the campaign locally.

Over the next few months we will be talking to Local Authority Trading Standards Services about plans for Scamnesty February 2009; and will keep you informed about how you can get involved in your local area.

We hope you will join us in making Scams Awareness Month 2009 the most successful yet.