FIFE MSP, Alex Rowley, has called for greater awareness to help protect communities from scammers, following finding out from the Kingdom's trading standards team how scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they try to dupe people.

Following a meeting with Fife Trading Standards to hear about their work and that of the National Trading Standards Scams Team, Mr Rowley said Fife Council are doing a lot of work to help protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams but that everyone has a role to play.

Only two weeks ago the management of Torleys Bar in Lochgelly, found fake £20 notes in their takings.

Commenting on the problem, Mr Rowley said: “Too many people fall victim to increasingly sophisticated scams. Many of these scammers target vulnerable groups of people, but in truth anyone can be taken in by them.

“We need to empower communities to take a stand against scams. It is important to encourage people to take action if they have fallen victim to a scam and it is also important to highlight the scale of the problem, so that we have a better understanding of how these scammers operate and how to tackle them.

“It is also important that we change the perceptions of why people fall for scams and make scams a community, regional and national topic. People should be especially aware of door to door scams, online scams and mass marketing scams through the post.”

"Fife Council Trading Standards are doing a really good job and want to engage the support of every community. I am writing to all community councils and local groups with more information asking them to share it in the community and help in the fight against scammers and the misery they are causing”.

Each year mass marketing mail scams, which often target vulnerable or disadvantaged consumers, cause approximately £3.5 billion worth of detriment to UK consumers.

The National Trading Standards Scams Team helps tackle mass marketing scams and disrupts the operations of perpetrators behind mail scams. It works in partnership with agencies across the country to identify and support victims of mass marketing fraud. The team provides guidance, best practice and establishes a centre of excellence to assist local authorities in supporting local victims and taking local enforcement action.

Potentially fraudulent mail should be reported to Royal Mail –Write to: Freepost Scam Mail. Call: 0800 011 3466

There is also a website for people to join up and get more assistance www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk or e mail Fife Trading Standards trading.standards@fife.gov.uk phone 01592583141Email: scam.mail@royalmail.com