LGA Governance


Agenda item

Agenda item

National Trading Standards Scams Team: Councils' Work to Tackle Fraud - Louise Baxter in attendance

Minutes:

Rebecca Johnson, Adviser, presented item two, and updated members on the work of the National Trading Standards Scams Team (NTSST).  Rebecca stated that scams are estimated to cost around £5-10 billion each year, however the exact figure is not known due to people often not being aware they are victims of a scam, or being too embarrassed to report the incident. 

 

Rebecca went on to state that the Scams Team works alongside local Trading Standards teams to investigate scams and identify and support victims. Rebecca outlined some of the wider work the  scams team have been doing, for example with the banking sector – such as a new Banking Protocol involving the training of front line staff to look out for unusual transactions.

 

Rebecca introduced the Friends Against Scams initiative (FAS) which is a programme of work focused on raising awareness about scams, and providing individuals and organisations with information about how to spot and support a victim. Councils have a key role to play in raising awareness amongst residents and are well placed to signpost to self-help tools that are available. Currently around 54 councils have signed up to FAS and NTSST is working to encourage more councils to sign up.

 

Rebecca confirmed that the LGA (and WLGA) has committed to becoming a FAS partner – and to promote the initiative with councils, Cllr Wallace has also been nominated as Scambassador.

 

Cllr Judith Wallace – the Board’s Scambassador – gave the following update:

 

·         The FAS initiative is aimed at communities to build up resilience against scams. 

·         The FAS aim to sign-up one million friends against scams by 2020. 

·         Victims of scams do not want to admit it they are a victim of this crime, as they often feel ashamed. 

·         Part of the work is to raise awareness of scams and for victims not to feel ashamed. 

·         Cllr Wallace asked members to encourage their authorities to sign-up to the initiative. 

·         The FAS e-learning tool will be circulated following the Board. 

·         Alongside banks, the FAS is working with the Royal Mail, as postal scams make up the majority of NTSST’s work. 

·         The FAS initiative is also working with young people, for example during universities fresher’s weeks.

 

Following the update members discussed how scammers can play on peoples’ greed and victim’s generosity, giving examples of fake charity collections in towns and highstreets, as well as via post and on the internet.  Members agreed that this is an incredibly important issue that creates significant costs to the taxpayer and economy, and as a result, local government should be at the forefront to tackle scams. 

 

Members also discussed the importance of the Scambassador role and the FAS initiative, although some had not been aware of it.  Members went on to state that it is worrying only 54 councils have signed so far, noting that while initiatives such as these takes a while to gain traction, the LGA and NTSST need to encourage more councils to sign up.

 

Members agreed that this work should be covered by schools as some young people are just as unaware of scams as some of the elderly.  Members also commented that this is a cross-boundary issue. 

 

Members reported that Trading Standards teams in their own authorities had received a significant increase of reporting of scams.  Concerns were raised over perpetrators securing money transferred via banks, as once money has been transferred from one account to another, it is effectively gone for good.  Members discussed the idea of a time lock to delay transfers of money. 

 

Members raised awareness of a recent event for the elderly at elderly retirement village, which was well attended by both residents and stakeholders, such as banks, HMRC and the NTS. 

 

Members agreed that working with the Post Office to train staff on this issue is key.

 

Members requested the list of the 54 councils who had signed up to the FAS initiative. 

o   Rebecca stated she would seek clarification from the NTS regarding circulating this list.  

 

Member raised the issue of cuts to trading standards, as well as the age profile within trading standards services, with many officers approaching retirement. 

 

Members also discussed the impact of Brexit, and how consumer law and scams legislation may fall under the radar following the UK’s departure from the EU. 

 

Actions

 

  1. Members noted the update.
  2. Officers to circulate the list of council members of FAS and e-learning tool.

 

Supporting documents: