Fraud Awareness – Private Landlords, Registered Social Landlords and Tenants

Reported frauds have increased dramatically since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic, with victims ranging from 16-88yrs of age. The types of fraud have become increasingly sophisticated utilising technology to its full potential to defraud people and organisations throughout Argyll and Bute. Frauds are committed by landline telephone, mobile telephone, emails or in person as bogus workers.

To combat telephone fraud, Argyll and Bute Council have provided funding for call blocker devices that can be attached to landline telephones. We have a number of these devices available for anyone who is vulnerable and would benefit from being protected from this type of fraud. Devices can be requested from Argyll and Bute Trading Standards at trading.standards@argyll-bute.gov.uk. We are also looking for people and organisations that would be willing to assist in installing call blocker devices. This may be of use if you are a Registered Social Landlord and you know of tenants that would benefit from a device being installed. Training can be provided and installation only takes a few minutes. This would greatly assist vulnerable residents throughout Argyll and Bute and we would be grateful for any offer of assistance for this.  

In terms of impact, we know that fraud can affect anyone of us and that the impact can often go much deeper than financial loss, particularly during times of austerity where many of us are already struggling financially. To try and help protect people from becoming a victim of fraud, Police Scotland have developed some guidance materials that can be of use to everyone. As a private landlord, you will find this useful for yourself as you protect your own finances, however you may also wish to share this with any tenants you have to help protect their finances and wellbeing as well.

• General awareness training can be found here www.FriendsAgainstScams.org.uk/elearning/ArgyllBute where everyone who completes this will be issued with a certificate.
• Guidance documents on telephone scams and cyber related frauds are attached as PDF files:

       Police Scotland_Little Booklet of Phone Scams_Online

       Police Scotland cyber advice

• We would also encourage everyone to sign up to receive free ‘alerts’ that are communicated by Neighbourhood Watch Scotland. These can be directed to your work or personal email and will cover the geographical area you chose. Once signed up, you will receive alerts on scams happening in your area that you may then wish to share as you feel appropriate. This may be throughout your employees, friends and family as we all know someone who could fall victim to scams at any time. You can sign up to receive these alerts here https://member-registration.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk/91/Join