Colleagues win award for helping victims of scam mail

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Colleagues at Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes delivery offices in Scotland have received an award for helping to identify victims of mass-marketing fraud in their area.

The hero award from the Trading Standards Institute celebrates outstanding contributions by individuals or groups of people who have protected consumers in the community.

The award gives national recognition to Royal Mail postal workers, like those in Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes, who play a vital role in helping trading standards officers protect vulnerable members of the community.

Katherine Hart, of Trading Standards in Fife, nominated the team. She worked with Royal Mail to develop material for WTLL sessions, and presented to offices in May 2013.

Following the briefings, colleagues helped to identify 21 chronic victims of mass-marketing fraud.

After alerting Trading Standards officers at Fife Council, social workers, victim support and police conducted a series of intervention visits. One victim was found to have been spending £1,000 a month on scams for many years.

Lead criminal intelligence manager Bob Ash says: ‘The success of this initiative was dependent on the ability to identify potential victims and the willingness of the staff to raise their concerns.

‘The fact that it was successful on both counts led to this very welcome and deserved recognition.’