PSNI officers have conducted over 189 vehicle checkpoints, seized nine vehicles and made two arrests during a targeted operation focusing on rural crime, cold callers and scams.
The operation involved targeted vehicle checkpoints and proactive patrols in known cold caller areas as well as a number of local engagement opportunities to share advice and information around scams.
The PSNI worked in partnership with staff from An Gardai Siochana, HMRC and Trading Standards.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Simon Walls said, “This was also about raising awareness around the various scams used by fraudsters to take money from unsuspecting members of the public.
“We all need to be vigilant of any contact from an unsolicited source, whether that is from doorstep callers, telephone, mail or online and education is our best weapon in preventing people from becoming victims.”
Damien Doherty, Northern Ireland’s Chief Trading Standards Officer, said, “We regularly receive complaints from people who have become victims of this type of crime. These victims are mostly older people.
“We send a clear message to doorstep criminals that we will always treat these complaints as priority.
“However, it also crucial to raise awareness of doorstep crime to attempt to safeguard potential victims,” Mr Doherty added.
Further advice and information on scams can be found by visiting www.nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni or the ScamwiseNI Facebook page @scamwiseni.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere