CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS GET HELP TO AVOID FRAUDSTERS
MSP HOST SCAM AWARENESS SURGERY
Canny Christmas shoppers are being invited to a special surgery organised by Ruth Maguire MSP to help them avoid falling for scams.
The surgery is being held on Black Friday, 23 November, which marks the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season when many retailers tempt shoppers with tasty deals.
And while many purchases bring joy and delight, others can put a damper on festivities as they turn out to be fraudulent.
Experts from Police Scotland, Trading Standards Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland and 1st Alliance Credit Union will be on hand to help shoppers spot the warning signs of dodgy transactions. Better Off North Ayrshire will be there to offer advice to anyone unfortunate enough to have already fallen foul of unethical, or even criminal, activity.
Ruth Maguire, SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, said: “Scammers are active all year round, but during the festive season it is too easy to let your guard down in pursuit of the perfect gift. Whilst most items on sale are genuine, fraudsters can use the festive period to offload counterfeits to the unwary or even sell you goods that don’t exist. And it’s not just your money that’s at risk – personal data, passwords and financial information can all be harvested to commit fraud.
“I’ve organised this surgery to help people get the information and advice they need to avoid the scammers’ traps.”
The event will be held at Towerlands Community Centre, Towerlands Farm Road, Bourtreehill South, Irvine KA11 1PY from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm on Friday 23 November. Entry is free and everyone is welcome.
Ruth Maguire MSP 