A NEW toolkit to help residents stay safe and avoid scams has been launched by East Renfrewshire Council’s trading standards team.

The innovative project outlines a number of simple steps people can take to protect themselves, loved ones, clients and neighbours from fraud.

Trading standards chiefs say it will empower residents to avoid unnecessary personal and financial harm, with a particular emphasis placed on protecting those in vulnerable situations.

The toolkit contains a wealth of information on problems such as doorstep crime, email scams, unwanted mail, online shopping, Covid-19 scams, financial abuse, power of attorney and what to do if you are receiving nuisance phone calls.

With a host of useful links and websites included to help guide people to safety, the toolkit also covers scam prevention that is tailored to protect those living with conditions such as dementia.

One of the main aims is to prevent older people falling victim to bogus callers.

Councillor Alan Lafferty, East Renfrewshire’s environment convener, said: “The council’s trading standards team have provided a wealth of knowledge and guidance with this new toolkit.

“It will be a welcome resource for residents across the area and I’m sure it will help us all to avoid the increasing number of scams which are now circulating.

“In the UK alone, it is estimated that over £190billion is lost to acts of fraud per year, with an estimated £9billion lost by individuals, so this toolkit is an absolutely essential way to help protect our residents from financial losses.”

To view the toolkit, visit www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/prevention.