BARRHEAD residents are being urged to seek advice on how to avoid holiday scams.
MSP Tom Arthur, who represents the town as part of his Renfrewshire South remit, hopes a new consumer advice service will help to protect people in the area.
The service, consumeradvice.scot, was launched in April this year with financial support from Holyrood, following the devolution of consumer powers, and is operated by the charity Advice Direct Scotland.
It provides free, impartial and practical advice directly to consumers in Scotland.
Common scams include bogus callers who are offering services such as landscape gardening or maintenance work in a bid to gain access to properties; online marketplace traders selling fake goods; and fake emails claiming to be from companies including Amazon, banks, or government departments.
If potential scams are reported to consumeradvice.scot, they can work with Trading Standards and Police Scotland to raise awareness and prevent more people being conned.
Mr Arthur said: “Hundreds of people in Renfrewshire South fall victim to scams every year. By following advice from Scotland’s new consumer advice service, people can spot the tell-tale signs and avoid being left out of pocket.”
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