Council advises residents to be aware of scams as part of Safeguarding Adults Awareness Week

Medway Council is urging residents to ‘See It, Report It, Stop It’ during Safeguarding Adults Awareness Week (9-13 October).

Abuse comes in many forms and may include physical, psychological, financial or material, such as consumer scams, sexual abuse, neglect, modern slavery, self-neglect, hate crimes and discrimination, and domestic violence.

Medway Council is part of the multi-agency Safeguarding Adults Board which brings together agencies across the county to keep adults safe from harm and protect their rights. Following a multi-agency review of cases, issues relating to neglect, and self-neglect, were highlighted and the theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Respect not Neglect’. Self-neglect covers behaviours which manifest unwillingness or an inability to care for oneself, and/or one’s environment.

Medway Council is also using this opportunity to offer advice to residents about cold callers and financial scams. Kent Police’s top tips on bogus callers include checking the company they say they are from, asking for their quote in writing and asking three or more traders for an average price. Advice has also been issued on how to deal with phone scams. If you are asked for more personal information than usual over the phone, hang up and call the organisation using a number you know, for example, one from your latest bill, in the telephone book, or from their official website. Residents can also search for traders who have signed up to the Medway Fair Trader Scheme. Members have been audited by Trading Standards and have clear pricing and fair contract terms.

Residents are also being advised about the growing number of courier frauds across Medway and Kent. Criminals call your home pretending to be a police officer, claiming money from your account is being used to pay for goods you did not order. They normally claim that your bank is in on the scam and is harbouring counterfeit money, and they need your help to investigate. You will then be asked to withdraw the cash from your account so it can be used as evidence and they make arrangements for a courier to come and collect it from you. Variations on the scam involve people claiming to be from Trading Standards, your local bank or other organisations in a position of trust.

Medway Council along with partner agencies, including health services and the emergency services, will raise awareness during the week about different forms of abuse and how to recognise and stop it.

Cllr David Brake, Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, said: “Our staff have been trained to provide discrete and specialist advice to victims, and to people who report it. We are dedicated to providing support for the victims of abuse and I would encourage anyone with concerns about a loved one, colleague, friend or neighbour to report it on their behalf.”

Detective Sergeant Marc Cananur, of Kent Police, said: “Criminals who commit courier fraud offences prey on the most vulnerable members of society and care little if their victims are left penniless as a result of the lies they are spun.

“Police officers will never request your bank details or ask you to withdraw money for any reason. We will also never ask you to transfer money, purchase goods on our behalf or send someone to your home to collect your cash, PIN, payment card or cheque book.

“If you are given any of these instructions, it is a fraudulent approach. Hang up, wait five minutes to clear the line and then call your bank or card issuer on their advertised numbers to report the fraud.”

During Safeguarding Adults Awareness Week, events are being held in Medway to raise awareness of the different types of abuse that some people suffer daily and how they, or their loved ones, can seek the help and advice they need to keep them safe and well.

One-stop information stands will be held in the Gillingham Asda store on Tuesday, 10 October, between 10am and 2pm, the Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham, on Thursday, 12 October, between 10am and 2pm, and in the Drill Hall Library at the University of Kent, Medway Campus, on Friday, 13 October, between 9am and 12pm.

A workshop for professionals will also be held at Medway Council on Wednesday, 11 October, with a variety of expert speakers.

To report abuse, call Medway Council on 01634 334466 or if someone is in immediate risk, call police on 999.