Scams Awareness Month 2015
Social and digital media Pack
#scamaware
Scams Awareness Month takes place throughout July 2015 and is an annual
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, to help people to recognise the tell tale
signs of a scam, via phone, online, mail or face to face and to develop consumer
confidence to take time to make the right decision.
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:
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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: Spot scams, stop scams! Stay #scamaware and help us crack
down on people who want to take advantage: http://bit.ly/scamaware15
● Post this on Facebook: We’re taking part in Scams Awareness Month 2015,
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/scamaware15
● Put this on your own website: We’re taking part in Scams Awareness Month
2015. Find out more by visiting the Citizens Advice website.
● Add scams to our live map: LINK TO FOLLOW
General guidance
Each week will cover a different type of scam. This campaign will be on Twitter,
Facebook, 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 Wednesday 1
July
Conversation starter: ask people to identify local scams and share them on
Facebook or Twitter
Add this to your email footer/signature: Don’t be rushed, don’t be hushed - take
time to talk about scams. Visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scamaware 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)
● Scams Awareness Month 2015 kicks off on 1 July 2015. Find out how you can
get involved by going to www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scamaware #scamaware
● Are you #scamaware? Follow the hashtag for tips & tricks to spot scams online,
on your phone, in the mail or face-to-face.
● Don’t be rushed. Don’t be hushed. Check possible scams with the
@CitizensAdvice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 #scamaware
● We’re taking part in Scams Awareness Month 2015 throughout July to help
consumers stay #scamaware. If you spot a scam, report it!
● Spot scams, stop scams! Stay #scamaware and help us crack down on people
who want to take advantage: http://bit.ly/scamaware15
● Nearly half the UK has been targeted by a scam – that’s why we’re taking part
in Scams Awareness Month 2015 to help people get #scamaware.
● Don’t fall prey to scams – follow the link to get advice & stay #scamaware:
http://bit.ly/scamaware15
● Just 5% of scams get reported. If you come across a scam, report it to
@actionfrauduk: http://bit.ly/1m6z5Ns #scamaware
● There are thousands of different scams – fake lotteries, bogus health cures,
dodgy investment schemes, pyramid selling, phishing… #scamaware
● Check out rules on distance selling, which includes online. Stay #scamaware &
get up-to-date: http://bit.ly/Q920Fw
● Don’t let scammers get away with it. Report scams to @ActionFraudUK:
http://bit.ly/1m6z5Ns #scamaware
● Called out of the blue? Don’t be rushed, don’t be hushed #scamaware
Financial and pension scams (during week one - 1-12 July)
● Don’t be caught cold by investment scams: take your time, get independent
advice www.fca.org.uk/register #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 #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
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Don’t be rushed, don’t be hushed, 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
Spot the pension scammers tactics & stay #scamaware with @TPRgovuk
booklet & checklist: http://bit.ly/1LhGKE5 [PDF]
For more information about pension scams and tips to stay #scamaware visit
@TPRgovuk website: http://goo.gl/cVNFNv
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://goo.gl/cVNFNv
Phone scams (during week one - 1-12 July)
● This week for Scams Awareness Month we’re focusing on phone scams – second
most common type of scam in UK #scamaware
● Suspect a phone 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
● 38% of scams use phone calls or texts to target consumers. If you get a call
out of the blue, be #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
● Cold calls & text messages are common pension scam tactics. Get guidance
from @TPRgovuk #scamaware
● Telephone numbers starting with 09 are premium-rate numbers - beware
people asking you to call these & keeping you on the line #scamaware
Online scams (during week two - 13-19 July)
● During week two of Scams Awareness Month we're looking at online scams.
Have you ever been caught on out on the web? #scamaware
● Watch out for scammers online! 30% of scams happen on the web or via email.
Stay #scamaware.
● Crime figures show a 60% rise in reported fraud in last 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
consumers £63.6m last 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.
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£670 million – the total annual cost to victims of the top ten online scams
#scamaware
Mail scams (during week three - 20-26 July)
● 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
● 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.
Visit www.mpsonline or call 0845 703 4599 #scamaware
Doorstep scams (during week four - 27-31 July)
● 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
● The 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, take your time & 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
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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
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Next month is Scams Awareness Month 2015, 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/scamaware15
Scams Awareness Month 2015 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://goo.gl/HSB1Wi
If you’re rung out of the blue, you should be suspicious. If you get a lot of cold
calls, use TrueCall or CallBlocker to block unwanted phone calls. You can also
sign up to the TPS 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!
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 new 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, adrian.galvin@citizensadvice.org.uk, 07989 339598
or campaigns@citizensadvice.org.uk.