At the halfway mark of Trading Standards’ six month Scampaign, officers and consumer champions are working together to protect people from falling victim to unscrupulous cold callers.

Ian Leggett, a consumer champion from Chedburgh, works closely with local residents to pass on information about the latest scams. He believes strongly in saying ‘no’ to unsolicited telephone sellers.

“I know from personal experience that it’s all too easy to get taken in by persuasive callers, who too often won’t take no for an answer. The old adage still stands: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

The most important advice is to never hand over personal information or confirm details like your bank account number over the telephone. Your bank would never call you for your PIN, and you are well within your rights to call the head office to confirm the caller’s credentials. Ultimately, just say ‘no’ unless you have asked for the call, or you are absolutely sure it comes from a trusted source.”

Ian is the star of the latest short clip in the Scampaign series, where consumer champions around the county are joining forces to help people avoid scams.

Consumer champions are volunteers that act as a bridge between Trading Standards and the local community. They make it easier for people to access information about consumer protection and to build resilience against rogue traders and scams.

If you believe you have been a victim of a telephone scam you should report the matter to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the website.

The county-wide crackdown on rogue traders, cold callers and scammers was launched in May to examine the huge range of scams that Suffolk people are continually exposed to. Each month will focus on a different issue, including E- crime, foreign lottery and debt cancellation scams.

People can sign up for the latest Trading Standards’ updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SuffolkTS and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SuffolkTradingStandards

Anyone interested in becoming a consumer champion can contact Suffolk Trading Standards on 01473 265822 for further information, or fill out an application online by following some easy steps: www.suffolk.gov.uk/consumerchampion.