Grant for Orkney anti-scams group

A community group on Orkney which was established to try and reduce local people being defrauded has been awarded a grant to further their anti-scam education work.

Orkney Scam Action Group, which was established in 2019, has identified scams which have cost islanders almost £2.5 million in the last three years.

Now the group has been awarded a grant of nearly £7,500 to take their advice throughout Orkney by running awareness roadshows on 13 islands, printing stickers, posters and leaflets and other material.

Sergeant Simon Hay, based in Kirkwall and who is Chair of the group, said: "We have identified losses by Orcadians from January 2019 to the end of last month ranging from £9.95 to £1.5 million and have only been able to recover £136,000.

"This grant from the Scottish Government and paid through Police Scotland will allow us to provide more advice and guidance to everyone on Orkney on how to avoid being defrauded through the many types on scams - often online or by phone - and which often target the elderly and most vulnerable members of our community."