Stockport Council is warning Stockport residents to be on their guard against being scammed over the festive period.

The advice, which applies to all situations where someone is trying to part you from your money, is:

• Don’t give bank or personal details to anyone over the phone or on the internet unless you are sure you know who you are dealing with;
• Think about whether you want the goods or services offered and if you do, where do you want to buy them;
• There is no purchase so urgent that it can’t wait a couple of days while you make some enquiries;
• Shop around to compare prices and check with family, friends or professional organisations for recommendations or warnings;
• Make sure you know who you are dealing with and how to contact them if things go wrong.

Councillor Sheila Bailey, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for the Communities and Sustainability, said: “The Council is committed to doing all we can to help residents avoid becoming a victim of a scam over the festive period. The key message to remember is that you are in charge, there are simple steps you can take to guard against scams and if you think you’ve spotted a scam, report it immediately. If something appears to be too good to be true, it probably is not true.”

For more information about common scams visit www.actionfraud.police.uk/ and www.tradingstandardsecrime.org.uk/ 

The ’12 scams of Christmas’ are part of the Council’s safety initiative which aims to inform Stockport residents of ways they can protect themselves and their property over the festive season. 

Discover the magic of Christmas in Stockport, to find out how to get involved visit www.stockport.gov.uk/christmas.