Against Scams Partnership

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Please see the scam prevention resources webpage for materials to help support your community.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Against Scams Partnership (CAPASP) is a county-wide partnership of public, private and voluntary sector organisations committed to working together to stop scams and doorstep crime across the county.

Man and lady looking at some documents
A SCAM champion talking to someone about scams

Become an Against Scams Partnership supporter

Will you take 5 simple steps to protect residents from the financial and emotional harm caused by scams?

  1. Print and display scams awareness posters on local noticeboards and in key locations such as your village or town hall, schools, churches, pubs and post office.
  2. Become a ‘Friend Against Scams’ by completing the 20 minute ‘express’ online training at www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/elearning/Cambridgeshire
  3. Promote the easy online Friends Against Scams training across your community. You could include the link on your community Facebook page, in your local newsletters and on slips of paper handed out at coffee mornings!
  4. Identify a local SCAMchampion or champions to spread the word on how to spot a scam. This could include having a display of information, running a Friends Against Scams training session, holding a drop-in advice session or anything else that you can think of.
  5. Distribute scams awareness materials to the most vulnerable members of your community and those who cannot access the internet. Perhaps your group members could hand deliver leaflets, hand out information at coffee mornings or give it to the organisers of other local community groups and local churches to share with their members.

We are delighted to offer you - and your community - the fantastic opportunity to join the growing legion of CAPASP supporters and make a real difference to your residents.

You know your community as well as anyone. You are best placed to make a positive difference to the lives of others within your community, protecting them from the financial and emotional harm of scams.

Group of people with a member of the police force
Crime prevention event in Gamlingay

Becoming a supporter costs nothing yet brings huge rewards. Local councils, community groups, charities, businesses, schools, housing associations and other organisations or individuals can become supporters. You will receive useful information from CAPASP to share with your community. This includes information on the latest scams, or new funding opportunities, for example.

Supporters have access to resources such as posters and leaflets. These include general information on scams and details of local support.

Information about local scams and sources of support can make a real positive impact on people. And if you join us as a supporter we love to celebrate you and the great things you are doing through this website and our social and other media.

So if you are inspired to deliver '5 Simple Steps' to spot scams and stop scams within your community we'd love to welcome you today as an official supporter!

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Against Scams Partnership Charter

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Against Scams Partnership (CAPASP) is a partnership of organisations committed to taking a stand against scams and aims to make Cambridgeshire and Peterborough a scam-free county.

Scams are fraud and fraud is crime. Being a victim of this crime can have a devastating impact. These crimes are often targeted at people in our communities that are vulnerable for a variety of reasons, including poverty, isolation, frailty, disability, cognitive impairment, and by the very nature of them being specifically targeted.

  • 53% of people aged 65+ have been targeted by scams and criminals (Action Fraud)
  • Scams cost the UK between £5-10 billion each year (Annual Fraud Indicator)
  • Anyone can be a scam victim, regardless of age, gender, education or economic background
  • Scam victims might not always admit (or be aware) that they are a victim of a scam. Only 5% of victims report the crime (Age UK 2015)
  • Scams are the product of organised, predatory criminals who gain trust to exploit and steal money

For support and advice on scams (e.g. rogue traders, romance scams, scam mail, telephone calls, text messages, emails), call Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.

For a non-emergency response (if you have been a victim of a fraud/scam), call Cambridgeshire Police on 101. If you have been affected by crime, get emotional and practical help from Cambridgeshire Victim and Witness Hub on 0800 781 6818.

To report a fraud, or suspected fraud, and share information to help stop others from becoming victims, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

How are we going to do it?

The CAPASP is united in taking a stand against scams and making Cambridgeshire and Peterborough a hostile county to criminals. Join us in making a difference and commit to the Charter.

Charter party commitment:

We will work together in partnership to raise awareness of scams and to support victims of scams. Scams are fraud, and fraud is crime. Together we will take a stand against scams by assisting people to protect themselves, helping prevent people from being targeted by criminals and identifying and supporting any victims of scams. We are committed to the Charter’s four key aims:

1. Communications

  • Improve public and business awareness of scams and increase knowledge about the steps they can take to protect themselves
  • Share consistent messaging and definitions to the public, partners and media

2. Prevention and Training Tools

  • Participate in the Friends Against Scams initiative, and run awareness raising sessions
  • Increase the protection that everyone, and especially people in vulnerable circumstances, should have against scams
  • Take steps to make it more difficult for anyone to be targeted by criminals
  • Introduce stronger obstacles and safeguards on the mechanisms used by perpetrators to reach their victims

3. Reporting and Referral Pathways

  • Introduce consistent definitions and recording of scams to aid understanding of the true scale of the impact of scams
  • Develop improved joint working and referral pathways between organisations and common support pathways for victims

4. Supporting Victims

  • Improve and streamline the early identification of potential victims of scams and ensure they are offered appropriate support
  • Promote the Scam Marshals scheme to victims as a way of empowering them in the fight against scams
  • Remove or reduce any possible stigma and embarrassment about being a victim of scams and ensure victims are supported like victims of other crimes

  • Angela Blackwell, Whittlesey
  • Cllr Adela Costello, Cambridgeshire County Councillor for Ramsey and Bury division, Member Area Champion for Huntingdonshire and Deputy Mayor for Ramsey Town Council
  • Diane Cutler, Murrow
  • Cllr Lorna Dupre, district and county councillor, Sutton
  • Cllr Lis Every, Chairman of the council at East Cambs District Council, CCC Member Area Champion for East Cambridgeshire and City of Ely councillor
  • Farmer Freeman, Oakington
  • Steve Harknett, Community Connector, Peterborough City Council
  • Cllr Peter Hayes, parish councillor, Fenstanton
  • Cllr Dennis Jones, Peterborough City Councillor, Dogsthorpe ward
  • Jessica Kennedy, Community Connector, Peterborough City Council
  • Anwar Khan, Soham
  • Cllr Oliver Sainsbury, Peterborough City Councillor for Fletton and Stanground ward 
  • Cllr Paola Trimarco, District Councillor, East Cambs for Ely West Ward
  • Cllr Sarah Wilson, Huntingdonshire district council member for Godmanchester and Hemingford Abbots and Godmanchester Town Councillor

Newsletter

Contact

Contact the Against Scams team (Against-Scams@cambridgeshire.gov.uk) for more information or to become a supporter.