SCAM protection advice will be offered at the Barclays West branch in Swindon today.
The borough council's Trading Standards team will run an awareness session with Wiltshire Bobbyvan between 10am and 2pm to help residents avoid fraudsters' tricks.
Officers will handout Trading Standards’ 2019 Buy with Confidence directory and ‘no cold caller’ stickers to help prevent doorstep scams.
Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety Cathy Martin said: "Just a couple of weeks ago,Trading Standards Officers helped Paul, a Swindon man, who had been duped into purchasing bitcoin after seeing an advertisement on the internet. Officers intervened to help get the £500 he had lost refunded to him by the bank and also to ensure the scammers did not get the thousands of pounds extra they were pushing for.
"Scams have a devastating personal and financial impact on all those affected. Our Trading Standards officers are working to prevent Swindon residents from falling prey to scams and to help those who have become victims.
“Scams Awareness Week is an opportunity to encourage our local communities to be vigilant to scams and help them to identify and prevent these types of fraud.”
The Trading Standards South West website has free resources including a guide to help people if they, or a family member, are being affected by a scam.
Visit tssw.org.uk/scamwise
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