The Jersey Fraud Prevention Forum (JFPF) is launching its annual online campaign to highlight the dangers of scams and frauds at Christmas time.
The JFPF, which was set up in 2016 by a group of local organisations, provides alerts and advice on how to guard against fraudsters and scammers. This year, its campaign, ‘12 Frauds and Scams of Christmas’, aims to encourage Islanders to shop smart and avoid falling victim to fraud during the festive season.
With more people choosing to shop online for gifts, holidays and even food, fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated methods to target shoppers including bogus websites selling counterfeit goods, fake adverts, virus infected e-Christmas cards and charity scams. Equally criminals continue to strike offline with package delivery scams, telephone and postal scams, and loan and investment scams.
Barry Faudemer, Jersey Fraud Prevention Forum, commented: “Criminals love Christmas; it’s the perfect time of year for you to give to them. They con their unsuspecting victims out of their hard earned cash, deceiving them to give up their personal information and bank details. Often busy shoppers don’t spare the time to think about protecting themselves and their finances and sadly fall into the fraudsters’ traps. Our campaign is designed to raise awareness locally so Islanders know how to better protect themselves so they don’t get conned this Christmas.”
Starting on 1 December and running for twelve days, the JFPF will publish advice and tips about how to stay safe this Christmas on its website and social media channels.
Anyone who believes that they have been a victim of a scam should contact the States of Jersey Police on 612 612 or email scams500@police.je For more information about the Jersey Fraud Prevention Forum visit www.fraudprevention.je