Safeguarding Adults, Stopping Scammers – Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards highlight Scam Awareness during Safeguarding Adults Week 20 – 24 November 2023 

Trading Standards are running two activities during Safeguarding Adults Week this year to assist people in spotting and stopping scams, preventing scammers from having a lasting impact on their wellbeing. 

Everyone is welcome to join the free webinar on Tuesday 21 November at 10.30am, focused on how to spot and stop a scam, including essential information on why having a Power of Attorney matters. It will have live subtitles and also be signed in British Sign Language. The first speaker will be from Trading Standards and the second speaker will be from Age UK. 

Then, on Friday 24 November 10am to 3pm, in partnership with Squires Garden Centres, Trading Standards officers and Scam Champion volunteers and Surrey Police will be attending their venues across Surrey to chat with all Black Friday shoppers and residents about how to spot and stop scams and frauds. 

Being scammed can be a harrowing experience that can have a long-lasting impact on wellbeing. Studies have shown that elderly people who are scammed are more likely to move to a residential care home than those who aren’t. There is a strong link between effective safeguarding and mental wellbeing and these activities during Safeguarding Adults Week, seek to educate, inform and prepare individuals to spot and stop scams themselves.  

Councillor Kevin Deanus, Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue and Resilience said, “Being scammed can seriously affect the quality of someone’s life and the Trading Standards webinar and their drop-in sessions are a great way of becoming more aware, learning to stop and ask more questions before anyone falls victim to a fraudster. We want all our residents to know it’s not rude to put the phone down or to shut the door to someone who is pressurising them. If you want to buy a service, our advice is to find a trader, don’t let them find you and get several quotes. Don’t be rushed, stop and think before responding. Never be embarrassed to report fraud, it could prevent someone else being targeted.” 

On Friday 24 November, from 10am to 3pm the Squires Garden Centre drop-ins will be held at: 

• Badshot Lea  
• Betchworth   
• Cobham  
• Guildford  
• Hersham  
• Milford  
• Runnymede  
• Woking  

For more information on how to avoid scams see Surrey’s Trading Standards webpage and sign up to their regular newsletter. 

NB Trading Standards will also be at Dobbies Garden centres in Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury and Beaconsfield) on Friday 24^th November 10am to 3pm.