The Jersey Fraud Prevention Forum today announced its official launch, with its remit to protect the Island’s general public from investment frauds and scams between a number of local agencies.
The launch which starts today (Monday 13th July 2015), will initiate the first of many campaigns to highlight and raise awareness of the dangers of fraud, in particular phone and mail scams. The launch also coincides with the UK’s Scams Awareness Month.
The aim is to promote and raise awareness about the growing number of scammers targeting Jersey, in particular among the elderly and vulnerable in the community.
Scammers are increasingly targeting Jersey residents over the telephone posing as call centre staff, bank staff and other figures of authority by seeking to defraud members of the public by asking simple questions, extracting personal details, and even calling multiple times to build trust and relationships.
The Forum consists of the: Jersey Financial Services Commission, States of Jersey Police, Jersey Consumer Council, Digital Jersey, Trading Standards, Honorary Police, Age Concern and Jersey Post.
The Chairman of the Forum, Detective Chief Inspector, Lee Turner commented:
“We are delighted to announce to official launch of the Jersey Fraud Prevention Forum today. The effects of these crimes can be devastating and working closely with the other agencies, as part of the Jersey Forum Prevention Forum, we are determined to harness all available resources to prevent local Jersey residents falling victim to scams and frauds in the future.”
Launch week
Members of the Forum will be in and around town during the launch to publicise the campaign. They will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice on various types of scams and how to stay safe.
The Forum will also be holding community events where islanders will have the chance to learn about being aware of fraudsters, staying safe and reporting scams. The following agenda explains where the campaign will be during the week.
The Fraud Prevention Forum will continue with further campaigns and initiatives to protect and safeguard residents focusing on different forms of fraud including, phone fraud, mail/letter scams and cyber crime.
| Day | Activities | Information |
| Monday 13 July
|
11:30-14:30
Forum launch with stand on King Street/Brook Street (between Jack Wills and Hammonds)
|
Media interviews will be available on the stand as follows:
11:30-14:30 – Chairman, Detective Chief Inspector Lee Turner 11:30-12:30 – Director-General of the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC), John Harris 13:30-14:00 – Chief of States of Jersey Police (SoJP), Mike Bowron 11:30-14:30 – we will have a lady who is a member of the public and has suffered as a result of received telephone and postal scams
Please contact Emma Martin to arrange any further interviews during the week |
| Tuesday 14 July
|
14:30-15:00
Talk at Age Concern on telephone scams during Tuesday weekly meeting
|
Talk to be given by SoJP and JFSC – media are welcome to attend |
| Wednesday 15 July | 10:00-12:00
Co-operative Grande Marche (Town)
11:00-13:00 Co-operative St Peter’s Store
|
SOJP, JFSC and Consumer Council – media are welcome to attend
SoJP Officers and Police community van – media are welcome to attend
|
| Thursday 16 July | 11:30-14:30
King Street (outside BHS) |
SoJP Officer, JFSC and Consumer Council – media are welcome to attend
|
Further information about the Forum and the various types of scams and frauds can be found at www.fraudprevention.je – in addition if you would like copies of the leaflets, posters, telephones stickers and other merchandise to promote the Forum please contact the Communications team FSCCommunications@jerseyfsc.org