Scams Awareness Month is just one of many topics to be aired at the annual Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards Conference and Exhibition, run by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). This, the largest event of its type in Europe, is being held at Bournemouth International Centre, until Thursday 2 July 2015.
Millions of people a year in the UK fall prey to scammers. Estimates of the total cost of mass-market scams run to £5 billion, but with few consumers reporting them, the loss could be a lot higher. Research shows that fewer than one in 20 victims report scams to the authorities. But it isn’t only about money. Scams blight people’s lives and lead to emotional trauma for families and loss of confidence among victims and consumers worried they’ll be next.
Scams Awareness Month 2015 (SAM15) runs throughout July with the theme “Don’t be Rushed, Don’t be Hushed. The campaign is asking people to keep two things in mind whenever they receive an unsolicited approach or when looking for goods or services: don’t be rushed and don’t be hushed. People should take their time making a decision and be sure of their facts before parting with money or personal information, and speak out when they think they’ve spotted a scam.
This campaign is encouraging residents to report suspicious activities, get advice if they think they’ve been conned, and to warn others to help stop scams from spreading.
Scams are the work of professional con artists who can dupe even the most savvy of consumers. It’s fairly simply to spot the warning signs, though. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you’re contacted out of the blue by someone you don’t know and asked for personal or banking information, it’s a scam. And if you think you have been scammed, you should ask Citizens Advice for help and report the scam to Trading Standards. Members of the public and groups acting against scams can get campaign materials online and find out about activities and resources for getting involved.
The CTSI is making good use of the Bournemouth International Centre’s four main halls, and the main open plan breakout areas, reconfigured to provide two mini-theatres running sessions throughout each day. There’s a plenary conference and a large exhibition, where 100 exhibitors represent everything from anti-counterfeiting and safety to consumer credit and copyright.
“This year we are back at Bournemouth International Centre, a venue which has hosted many a successful CTSI Conference, where we will be focusing on the key ingredients of a modern society: fairness, safety and health, and the trading standards services are a necessity in providing for all three.”
says CTSI chief executive Leon Livermore.
“I look forward to seeing the profession and its partners come together over these three days to set out a fresh direction for trading standards. It will be great to see members of the public and media being rewarded for their outstanding efforts to bolster consumer protection in their area.”
On Monday, the CTSI launched a new safeguarding toolkit at the mini-theatre session, An introduction to Safeguarding in Trading Standards. The toolkit has been designed and produced by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and will provide trading standards officers with the necessary information and guidance to deliver the best possible protection to consumers and ultimately make them more effective at protecting the vulnerable.
Also new for this year’s conference, is a special consumer exhibition on Thursday 2 July 2015, giving visitors an opportunity to meet with like-minded companies and other consumer groups, with focus workshops including scams and the vulnerable consumers, dispute resolution and general consumer interest.
Every year CTSI celebrates the outstanding contributions individuals or groups of people have made to consumer protection in their communities with its Hero Award celebration. These awards, handed out at the conference, celebrate carers, community members and journalists who go above and beyond their job remit to help vulnerable consumers.
Other awards will be presented at a black-tie event, starting with a drinks reception and followed by a three course dinner and the awards presentations. The evening also includes live entertainment on stage, a table magician and a DJ to finish the evening with dancing. Graduates attending the earlier Institute Celebrates Success graduation ceremony are also be invited to attend.
More information about the conference programme can be found at tradingstandards.uk/events
Ends
Notes to the editor
Bournemouth International Centre is operated by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council.
About BH Live
BH Live is the South Coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues – a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives. With over 2.5 million visits a year and over £31 million turnover, the organisation is changing lives – placing it at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy.
In 2013/14, BH Live hosted 423 shows, sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets, clocked up 1.8 million leisure centre visits and welcomed 88,000 conference and exhibition delegates which contributed over £45 million to the local economy.
For further press information:
Elizabeth Symmons
PR & Corporate Communications Executive, BH Live
Elizabeth.Symmons@bhlive.co.uk
01202 451866