Our borough council has won a national award for preventing Macclesfield residents from getting scammed.

A partnership between Cheshire East Council and Age UK which combats fraudsters who prey on the vulnerable has scooped a top national award,

Their work has also been praised by the borough council's chair of Communities Committee.

The Older People Scams Awareness and Aftercare Project, funded by the Garfield Weston Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund, raises scams awareness with people aged 50 and above across Cheshire East and supports older victims of fraud to get back on their feet.

More than 6,000 people receive its scams awareness update bulletin each month, including those from Macclesfield.

It offers scams awareness sessions to groups of older people and those who work with them.

Now, due to its positive impact on the community and victims of scams, the project has been awarded a Charted Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Brian Smith Individual Heroes Award.

This is given to recognise the bravery of scam victims and the officers that work on these difficult cases.

Falling victim to a scam can devastate someone's life, and it happens to even the sharpest of us.

The Individual Heroes award is given to those who look out for vulnerable neighbours, volunteer within their communities and those who may be a victim but refuse to be defined by it.

Cheshire East Council trading standards enforcement officer Andy Burrows attended the awards event in London last week, to represent the team.

Project manager Sally Wilson said: "We are delighted that the project's success over the past 18 months has been recognised.

"We receive the award on behalf of the hard-working teams at Age UK Cheshire East and the borough's trading standards service, especially our scams awareness champions, who volunteer to raise awareness in their communities.

"This award is also to recognise the bravery of scam victims we have worked with in coming forward for support, so they can get back on their feet and be a valued member of their community."

Macclesfield Cheshire East Councillor Mick Warren said: "I warmly congratulate our trading standards service and the scams awareness and aftercare project team on this deserved award for the excellent and important work they undertake to protect our older residents from unscrupulous scammers, who seek to take advantage of their vulnerability, especially during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

"It is hard to believe there are people who will prey on our elderly and vulnerable residents during this challenging time but, very sadly, the number of reports from victims shows that it is all-too-often the case.

"Protecting our older people from this kind of criminal activity is vital and I wish to thank Age UK Cheshire East for the work that they are doing with our trading standards team. Well done all."

Macclesfield consumers should be extra alert for scammers ahead of the festive season.

From Christmas e-card links to online shopping fraud, the winter months are a rich time for scammers.

Fake charity donations and ticketing scams are also common tricks for which the Cheshire East initiative can warn you against from.

Information about the project's work and telltale times of a scam can be found on the Age UK website.

To join hundreds of Macclesfield residents receiving the monthly update, or book a scams awareness session for your group or volunteer on the project in your community, you can contact Sally Wilson on 01625 612958 or [email protected].

Older Macclesfield residents who have been a victim of scams can also contact the project for advice and support.

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