National Consumer Week

Age Cymru is supporting this year's National Consumer Week.

The campaign is calling on us all to be on the lookout and step in to protect older and vulnerable people from doorstep criminals.

New research for the Trading Standards Institute, National Trading Standards and Citizens Advice has shown that 46% of British adults don't think their neighbourhood looks out for its vulnerable residents well enough.

It also reveals that 39% of us know someone who is at particular risk and would struggle to spot a doorstep criminal or handle them assertively.

Commenting on National Consumer Week, Age Cymru's Campaigns Co-ordinator Gerry Keighley says:

"Scammers are ruthless parasites without a trace of conscience and their major tactic is to target vulnerable people and wear them down.

"Age Cymru is glad to support National Consumer Week because our ‘Scams and swindles' campaign is calling for more protection to be introduced for older people from scams and rogue traders.

"With older people losing an average of £1,200 each time they are scammed, we want measures to be put in place to stop scammers from reaching older people in the first place.

"This is why we want to see an increase in the numbers of ‘No Cold Calling Zones' to help protect older people from unscrupulous rogue traders and doorstep scams.

"Education is another key way that we can tackle the scourge or doorstep crime.

"Age Cymru's ‘Scams Awareness Project' works with older people who live with dementia and their carers to give them the information and support they need to protect themselves from scams."

National Consumer Week has been running since 1989 and has covered subjects including second hand car buying, car boot sales, child care seats, quality of goods, safety, consumer rights, customer care and health and environment.

This year's National Consumer Week focuses on tackling doorstep crime.