Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Carmarthenshire’s Trading Standards team is warning people to be on their guard against scammers, and asking people to look out for the welfare of elderly relatives, neighbours and friends. Their warning came on National Safeguarding Day, when Trading Standards teams across the country joined forces to raise awareness of scams. Here in Carmarthenshire, the team has dealt with thousands of pounds worth of fraud in the last 12 months alone – mostly concerning older people and those vulnerable through ill health. They include a Burry Port man conned out of £50,000 in bogus lotteries; a St Clear’s woman who lost £4,500 in a series of scam prize draws; an Ammanford man who lost more than £40,000 by buying overpriced vitamin supplements; and a Llanelli man conned out of his life savings worth £75,000 in scams involving diamonds, fine wine and art. The scams came to light through the national Scams Hub, and also through the Financial Exploitation Safeguarding Scheme (FESS) – a multi-agenc...

Carmarthenshire's Trading Standards have begun visiting almost 600 people whose names have been found on a ‘suckers list’ used by scammers. Their names have been picked up through a National Scams Hub, which Carmarthenshire County Council has signed up to. Their first visits are in Ammanford, and so far, officers have spoken to a number of people who have parted with money ranging from a few hundred pounds to thousands, mainly through scam mail. Quita Davies, Trading Standards Officer, said: “Quite often, people are either unaware that they are a victim, or are too embarrassed to admit that they may have fallen for a scam. “Through intelligence gathered via the National Scams Hub we have been able to make proactive visits to many people, offer them support and protect them from these criminals.” Trading Standards have linked up with Dyfed Powys Police , and Barclays Bank Ammanford Branch , who are helping identify victims and handing out scam information to customers. Cllr Jim J...