Complaints received by the Consumer Direct contact centres and by Trading Standards Services show that every year in the South West, hundreds of people are conned by, or encounter problems with scammers and rogue traders.

This help and guidance has been produced as part of an on-going campaign by Trading Standards Services in the South West. The ‘Scam Wise South West’ campaign aims to reduce the number of people caught out by scams and rogue traders in the region.

• It is estimated that UK consumers lose up to £3.5 billion per year to a variety of scams which exploit low-cost, mass-marketing techniques to target recipients. These include bogus prize draws and lotteries, premium-rate prize promotions, psychic mailings and miracle health cures which mislead recipients.
• We also receive complaints from consumers who are cold called by unscrupulous traders offering their services on the door step. The work is often badly done and overpriced.
• The sums lost by individuals from these scams and traders range from small amounts to £10,000’s.
• There are strong indications that the actual number of people affected by scams is far greater than the reported figures.

Available leaflets and booklets to download.

Scamwise -	How to Avoid Being Ripped Off - Advice leaflet (4 pages)from Trading Standards (306KB - pdf help)
Scamwise -	How To Avoid Being Ripped Off - Advice booklet (16 pages) from Trading Standards (663KB - pdf help)
Scamwise -	Internet Scams - Advice leaflet from Trading Standards (417KB - pdf help)
Scamwise -	Doorstep Traders - Advice leaflet from Trading Standards (420KB - pdf help)
Scamwise -	Mailing Scams - Advice leaflet from Trading Standards (340KB - pdf help)
Scamwise -	Telephone Scams - Advice leaflet from Trading Standards (336KB - pdf help)
Scamwise -	No Doorstep Traders - Window sticker (98KB - pdf help)