Monmouthshire County Council’s Trading Standards is keen to support a national initiative called Business Against Scams, which seeks to stop businesses falling victim to criminals currently exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the initiative, a short online video is available free of charge, accessible to all businesses. It highlights the specific scams that are circulating at the moment and how businesses that would normally be unaffected can become situationally vulnerable. It explores how factors such as financial pressures, isolated home working and unfamiliar IT are all being manipulated to extort money from businesses.

All local traders have to supply is their name and address and after viewing the presentation they can access promotional materials that can be share amongst staff.

“This is a really helpful initiative,” said Councillor Sara Jones, Cabinet Member for Social Justice and Community Development. “Businesses are already struggling to keep going in extremely challenging circumstances, without having the additional stress of potentially being ripped off by scammers. Business Against Scams’ video is an essential resource to help protect from scams. Knowledge is the best defence we have.”

For more information about Business Against Scams and to access the video https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/BAS