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July 2018 July 2018
DORSET TRADING STANDARDS
BERE REGIS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Dorset County Council Trading Standards Service check and
Sundays 10.30am Morning Service taken each week by visiting approve businesses so you don’t have to.
preachers.
For more information visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or
Mondays at 7pm STS (Search the Scriptures) Youth meeting call 08454 040506.
Tuesdays at 9.15am (during term time) Chapel Toddlers Group To report or seek advice about problems you have
Tuesdays at 7.30pm Bible Study and Prayer experienced when dealing with a trader call 08454 040506.

News from Trading Standards: Scams through the ages.
Dogs That Make Life Liveable
Citizens Advice working have identified four common groups of people, each of
Allen was looking forward to a promising career in the Royal Navy when a traffic
accident left him unable to walk and with short term memory loss. He was who are more likely to be affected by scams in different ways.
discharged from the Navy deemed unfit for employment. Although ‘young people’ aged 18 to 24 don’t represent the largest group of
He couldn’t remember from day to day what he had done without writing it people falling victim to scams, numbers of scam victims in this group is rising. In
down. Large chunks of his life had been erased. This made him so frustrated that particular, young people are a growing proportion of victims of online and
identity fraud. Having grown up with technology they are often confident in their
for a long time the easiest thing for him to do was to hide away from everyone. ability when using the internet. This can lead to them feeling that they are unlikely
His confidence ebbed away.
to fall for internet scams, making them complacent and increasingly vulnerable.
Then he heard about ‘Canine Research shows that over half of young people are unlikely to report scams.
Partners for Independence’, a ‘Life established’ people in their 40s to 60s are the group most affected by scams.
charity that assists disabled Part of this is due to the fact that they are most likely to report scams, but also
people to enjoy a greater because certain demographics within this group are targeted due to their
independence and a better circumstances. For example, this group tends to be more settled and has access
quality of life through the help to financial assets. This makes them more likely to be targets of scams, such as
of specially-trained dogs. His pension scams, dating scams and property scams.
life changed completely when
Endal, a Labrador, came to ‘Older people’, over 70s, are often targeted by scammers. Research has found
live with him. that 75 is the average age of reported scam victims and those over 70 suffer the
highest detriment. Older people tend to fall victim most to phone and mail scams,
Now when Allen forgets things, and figures from National Trading Standards show that older people are
Endal patiently finds them and
gives them to him. If Allen’s deliberately targeted more than other demographics. This group also sees the
foot falls from the footrest of his wheelchair, Endal gently takes it in his mouth and largest proportion of people who are recurring victims of scams.
lifts it back. He even collects cash from a bank dispenser. People who are ‘socially isolated’ can be the hardest to reach and often aren’t
“Endal accepts me as I am, he never turns away because of my condition,” says able to access the same support that others can. While this group makes up a
Allen. “His love is unconditional. He is helping me to become more tolerant. smaller number of cases of reported scams they often have high levels of
Every day we learn another way in which we can work together as a team.” detriment, not just in the amount of money lost, but the overall impact on health
and wellbeing.
Dogs like Endal are carefully selected and put through a CPI training lasting up to
twenty months. Each dog is taught a set of commands which can be added to By better understanding different groups Citizens Advice hope to reach more
people and encourage reporting. If you’ve lost money because of scams report it
by owners after they are matched. The range of ways in which the dogs can
to action fraud, by phone 0300 123 2040, or online www.actionfraud.police.uk

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