Scams Awareness Month 2016
Social and digital media Pack
#scamaware
Scams Awareness Month takes place throughout July 2016 and is an opportunity for consumers to take a united stand against predatory practices that affect millions of people each year.
The aims of the campaign are to raise awareness of the extent of scams and the threat they pose to our finances and wellbeing, help people to recognise the threat of scams, via phone, online, mail or face to face and develop consumer confidence to trust their gut feeling take time to make the right decision.
Actions consumers can take are:
● Get advice from the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline 03454 04 05 06
● Report Scams to ActionFraud 0300 123 2040
● Tell family friends and neighbours about scams you spot.
In addition this pack refers to other organisations and regulators that can help consumers with specific scams for example: Royal Mail, Safer Jobs, The Information Commissioner’s Office, The Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority, amongst others.
This pack will help you to use social and digital media to achieve the campaign’s objectives. It contains information and guidance on the following:
● Quick actions you can take right now
● General guidance
● Sample tweets
● Sample Facebook content
● Our live scams map
● How to create audio content
● Using Streetlife to mobilise local support
● Useful links
● Helpful contacts
Quick actions you can take right now
· Tweet this: We’re taking part in Scams Awareness Month 2016 throughout July to help consumers stay #scamaware. Find out how you can get involved by going to http://bit.ly/1QaPPG5
· Post this on Facebook: We’re taking part in Scams Awareness Month 2016, an opportunity to fight back against scammers, who cost UK consumers millions of pounds each year. We’re here to give you the skills and confidence to spot & stop scams. Head to Citizens Advice website for more info: http://bit.ly/1QaPPG5
· Put this on your own website: We’re taking part in Scams Awareness Month 2016. Find out more by visiting the Citizens Advice website.
· Add scams to our live map: http://bit.ly/1QaPPG5
· Fill in our participation map: Let us know you are taking part in Scams Awareness Month www.citizensadvice.org.uk/sam16
General guidance
Each week will cover a different type of scam. This campaign will be mainly on Twitter and Facebook. There are also sections in this pack on how to participate using Audioboom and StreetLife. Search for the hashtag #scamaware on any channel to see what’s going on. More information on actions planned for each of these channels is below.
Hashtag: #scamaware
Imagery: find cover images etc on our website. Please use them from Friday 1 July
Conversation starter: ask people to identify local scams and share them on Facebook or Twitter
Add this to your email footer/signature: I’m glad I listened to my gut feeling…be scam aware. Visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scams-awareness-month to find out more.
Website: don’t forget to promote this campaign on your website and link back to our public campaign page.
Sample tweets
General (for use throughout the month of July. Launch day is Friday July 1)
● Scams Awareness Month 2016 kicks off on 1 July 2016. Find out how you can get involved by going to http://bit.ly/1QaPPG5 #scamaware
● Are you #scamaware? Follow the hashtag for tips & tricks to spot scams online, on the phone, in the mail or face-to-face
● Listen to your gut feeling. Check possible scams with the @CitizensAdvice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 #scamaware
● We’re taking part in Scams Awareness Month 2016 throughout July to help consumers stay #scamaware. If you spot a scam, report it!
● Be #scamaware listen to your gut feeling and help us crack down on people who want to take advantage: http://bit.ly/1QaPPG5
● Nearly half the UK has been targeted by a scam – that’s why we’re taking part in Scams Awareness Month 2016 to help people get #scamaware
● Don’t fall prey to scams – follow the link to get advice & stay #scamaware: http://bit.ly/scamaware15
● There are thousands of different scams – fake lotteries, bogus health cures, dodgy investment schemes, job scams, ticket scams. Find out more at http://bit.ly/1m6z5Ns#scamaware
● Spotted a scam? Report it to @ActionFraudUK: http://bit.ly/1m6z5Ns #scamaware
● Called out of the blue? Trust your gut feeling, get advice from @Citizens Advice Consumer Service, report scams to @ActionFraudUK #scamaware
● £5bln – estimated yearly loss to UK consumers to mass-marketed scams via phone and post #scamaware
Telephone scams (starting Friday July 1 with the launch and continuing the following week beginning Monday July4 )
● Remember the TPS is free of charge and will never contact you asking for bank details www.tpsonline.org.uk #scamaware
● Don’t be caught cold by investment scams: take your time, get independent advice, check here first http://bit.ly/warninglist #scamaware
● Cold calls or text messages are common pension scam tactics. Get guidance from www.pensionwise.gov.uk #scamaware
● Out of the blue call about your pension? Report nuisance calls to the Information Commissioner’s Office www.ico.org.uk/concerns #scamaware
● The Financial Conduct Authority has a register of authorised financial firms www.fca.org.uk/register and a list of scam firms #scamaware
● See known scam investment schemes at www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart #scamaware
● genuine pension advisers don’t pressure you into a decision or tell you to keep it secret #scamaware
● Pension scam tactics include sending spam texts. Report them to www.ico.org.uk/concerns
● This week for Scams Awareness Month we’re focusing on phone scams – the most common type of scam in UK #scamaware
● Gut feeling says scam? Hang up, wait five minutes to clear the line or use another phone to call your bank #scamaware
● Computer firms do not make unsolicited phone calls to help fix your computers #scamaware
● Plagued by nuisance calls? Report them to the @ICOnews #scamaware
● Take action against cold calls and unwanted texts by reporting them to the @ICOnews #scamaware
● Cut down unwanted phone calls register your number with the Telephone Preference Service www.tpsonline.org.uk 0845 070 0707 #scamaware
● Registered with the Telephone Preference Service and still getting nuisance calls? Report them @ ico.org.uk/for-the-public #scamaware
● Spot the pension scammers tactics & stay #scamaware with @TPRgovuk booklet & checklist
● For more information about pension scams and tips to stay #scamaware visit @TPRgovuk website: http://bit.ly/1J4l7Ki
● Spot a pension scam before they strike & stay #scamaware. Download the #PensionScams booklet from @TPRgovuk: http://bit.ly/1LhGKE5 [PDF]
● By following the tips from @TPRgovuk you’re giving yourself the best possible protection against pension scammers: http://bit.ly/1J4l7K
● Cold calls & text messages are common pension scam tactics. Get guidance from @TPRgovuk #scamaware
● Telephone numbers starting with 09 are premium-rate numbers - watch out for people asking you to call these and keeping you on the line #scamaware
● Beware advertising scams demanding payment for services you have verbally consented to #scamaware
Online scams (during week two beginning Monday July 11)
● Week two of Scams Awareness Month looks at online scams. Have you ever been caught on out? http://bit.ly/1QaPPG5 #scamaware
● Watch out for scammers online! One third of scams happen on the web or via email. http://bit.ly/1QaPPG5.Stay #scamaware.
● £4000 – the average loss from job scams with 18-25 most defrauded. See @saferjobs #scamaware
● Walk away from jobs that ask you for money in advance @saferjobs.com http://bit.ly/1QaPPG5 #scamaware
● Asked to call a number for a job interview? Beware - scams operate this #scamaware
● Avoid ticket scams - do research and use credit card or secure payments #scamaware
● Women aged 50-64 are most risk of free trial scams (subscription traps) offering beauty products #scamaware
● Crime figures show a 60% rise in reported fraud in 5 years boosted by a rise in online scams #scamaware
● The Internet accounts for 84% of ID fraud – a crime that costs UK consumers £3.3bn a year! #scamaware
● Online shopping scams are the most common fraud in the UK, costing consumer £60m a year. Most losses are around £200 #scamaware
● Use online dating? Watch out for scammers on dating sites – they cost victims £24.5m last year & often go reported #scamaware
● £670 million – the total annual cost to victims of the top ten online scams #scamaware
Mail scams (week beginning Monday July 18)
● Protect your friends & relatives from courier scams. Criminal callers pose as banks & send couriers to pick up your bank card #scamaware
● Watch out for fake lottery letters. If you didn’t enter, you haven’t won! #scamaware
● Warn friends and relatives - you shouldn’t have to pay anything to win a prize #scamaware
● Report all scam mail to @RoyalMail – email scam[dot]mail[at]royalmail[dot]com #scamaware
● Mail scams cause misery. Never send money to someone you don’t know #scamaware.
● The Mailing Preference Service is free and may help reduce unsolicited mail www.mpsonline.org.uk 0845 703 4599 #scamaware
Doorstep scams (Monday July 25)
● Doorstep scams are still a big problem (13% of all scams) & often target vulnerable members of public – help them stay safe & #scamaware.
● Want to avoid cold callers on your doorstep? Get a sticker for your front door from your local Trading Standards or police force #scamaware
Help and advice
● If you suspect you’re the target of a scam, get advice from the @CitizensAdvice Consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 #scamaware
● Get advice about scams online, from the @CitizensAdvice self-help website: http://bit.ly/QpwaUL #scamaware
● There’s lots of free online security advice @GetSafeOnline to help you stay #scamaware: www.getsafeonline.org
● If you think a vulnerable friend or relative is falling prey to scammers, @think_jessica can help: http://bit.ly/1hUl8Nk #scamaware
● Charity @victimsupport gives free & confidential help to victims of crime, their family, friends & anyone else affected #scamaware
Top #scamaware tips
● If it sounds #toogoodtobetrue, it probably is. Be #scamaware.
● If you haven’t bought a lottery ticket, you can’t win it. Be #scamaware.
● Contacted out of the blue? Be suspicious, be #scamaware.
● Never give out your bank details unless you’re certain you can trust the person contacting you #scamaware
● If you think something sounds a bit suspicious, listen to your gut feeling & don’t be pressured into quick decisions #scamaware
● Walk away from job ads that ask for money in advance #scamaware
● Your bank will never ask for your PIN #scamaware
● Scam victim? Don’t suffer in silence – help others be #scamaware.
● 10 handy tips from @TheFCA to help you avoid unauthorized investment firms: http://bit.ly/1iUknX1
● Know your phishing from your vishing? @ActionFraudUK has a handy A-Z to help you stay #scamaware: http://bit.ly/1gAh0Gi
● If you’re contacted by a firm offering investment, check they’re not on @theFCA black list before proceeding: http://bit.ly/1n95plr
Sample Facebook content
● This month is Scams Awareness Month 2016, an opportunity to fight back against scammers, who cost UK consumers millions of pounds each year. We’re here to give you the skills and confidence to spot & stop scams. Head to our website for more info: http://bit.ly/1QaPPG5
● Scams Awareness Month 2016 launches today! Have you ever fallen victim to a scam? Post your experience and share this post to stop scammers getting away with it!
● This week we’re focusing on online scams, which have shot up 60% in the last 5 years. What’s the strangest/sneakiest online scam you’ve ever seen or heard of?
● Pension scammers will try to lure people with promises of one-off investments, pension loans or upfront cash. Most of these are bogus. For more information about pension scams and tips to stay #scamaware visit The Pension Regulator’s website: http://bit.ly/1IkQEBZ
● If you’re rung out of the blue, you should be suspicious. If you get a lot of cold calls, use a call blocker to block unwanted phone calls. You can also sign up to the Telephone Preference Serverice register: http://bit.ly/1gZJyVn
● This week we’re helping people to spot mail scams. If you’ve ever been targeted by a postal scam, don’t suffer in silence, tell everyone what happened in the comments below so we can put a stop to it.
● Doorstep and face-to-face scams still affect many people. Help us stop scammers picking on vulnerable members of society and click share to spread the word: http://bit.ly/1p6TPt2
Live scams map
If you’ve experienced a scam, or know of a scam and the victim is happy for you to share it anonymously, add it to our live scams map which will be embedded on our website and shared on social media. Please also tweet this and ask your followers to do the same! http://bit.ly/1QaPPG5
If your organisation is taking part in Scams Awareness Month please record your involvement in our participation map: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
How to create audio content
Throughout the month, Citizens Advice will sharing people’s audio clips about scams - testimonies from victims, voxpops from members of the public and clients on their experience of scams, top tips from experts and more. Please help us tell the story of Scams Awareness Month and collect your own audio.
The best way to do this is to use the free smartphone app Audioboom:
1. Visit the Audioboom website and create an account for your organisation (this is what ours looks like)
2. Download the app Audioboom on your smartphone, then login to the account you’ve just created
3. Read this article to find out how to record and publish sound clips (scroll to the bottom for how to do it on the app)
You’re ready to go! Your phone has now become your very own dictaphone - record short interviews then publish them online straight away. Just make sure you include the tag #scamaware so we can see it and share it.
Using Streetlife to mobilise local support
Streetlife is a social network for local communities. You can create your own individual account or set up organisational pages just as you would on Facebook.
The beauty of it is that only people in your area will see what you post, so it’s a great place to mobilise support, organise meet-ups, raise awareness of local scams or ask questions.
Just head to the website and watch the video to get an idea of how it works.
Useful links
Public campaign page
Campaign page for stakeholders
Blogs about this campaign will use this tag: scams awareness month
Our advice pages
Action Fraud
Financial Conduct Authority scams pages
The Pensions Regulator scams pages
Get Safe Online
Helpful contacts
Campaign lead: Adrian Galvin, , 07989 339598