Cheshire authorities work to reduce fraud

A new initiative to safeguard vulnerable residents in Cheshire will be launched on Monday.

Cheshire East Council’s trading standards team is joining forces with the police, the three other Cheshire borough councils and financial institutions to identify customers who are being defrauded, and to implement safeguarding procedures to prevent the loss of funds.

The four authorities involved in providing the banking protocol are Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington Councils.

The scheme has been developed to protect our vulnerable residents. It is a sad fact that criminals will prey on our most vulnerable residents and pressurise them into paying extortionate amounts for goods and services that they don’t need.

Councillor Paul Bates, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for communities and health, said: “Financial fraud is a modern problem which this authority will stop at nothing to challenge.

“This shouldn’t be and isn’t just an issue for the police to tackle. Cheshire East Council’s trading standards team has had a number of successes protecting consumers from things like online fraud, doorstep crime and scams and has shown that working together in partnership can make a really positive difference.

“Along with our colleagues in the other partner authorities for the banking protocol, we will do all we can to protect people in Cheshire.”

The trading standards team, who are a key partner on this project, will be ensuring that financial sector staff receive further training to identify suspicious transactions.

For further information on the banking protocol, please call Cheshire East Council’s trading standards team on 0300 123 5015.