AMMANFORD pensioners have been conned out of their life savings by scammers.

One elderly residents lost £14,000 in one scam and another was found to have been paying more than £600 a week- losing more than £43,000.

The stories have emerged as Carmarthenshire Trading Standards team is warning people to be on their guard against scammers, and asking people to look out for the welfare of elderly relatives, neighbours and friends.

Trading Standards teams across the country are joining forces to raise awareness of scams, prompted by National Safeguarding Day which happened on February 29.

Here in Carmarthenshire, the team has dealt with thousands of pounds worth of fraud in the last 12 months alone – mostly concerning older people and those vulnerable through ill health.

They include an elderly Ammanford man whose case was discovered via the National Trading Standards Board Scams Hub.

He was found to have been paying over £600 a month to bogus prize draws and overpriced vitamin supplements with little or no health benefits other than those found at a fraction of the price in any UK High Street Pharmacy. The resident had been doing this since 2009, so it is estimated that he lost around £43,200.

A second elderly resident was prevented from sending £14,000 to a bogus lottery in Costa Rica.

The resident was promised a £750,000 prize but was required to send the £14,000 in order to obtain certification that the money was entering the country legitimately and wasn’t going to be used to fund terrorism.

This obvious attempt to take advantage of a vulnerable person, was averted by concerned staff at a branch of Barclays Bank and subsequently referred to Trading Standards and the Police for further investigation.

The scams came to light through the national Scams Hub, and also through the Financial Exploitation Safeguarding Scheme (FESS) – a multi-agency scheme established by Carmarthenshire Trading Standards in 2014.

It is the first of its kind in Wales, and works not only to prevent fraud and identify victims but also protects them from further exploitation by putting support in place from social care and housing teams.

All Halifax and Barclays branches in the county are members of the scheme, as are every Citizens Advice Bureau in Carmarthenshire.

Staff have received specialist training to help them recognise the signs of financial abuse, and if they believe one of their customers is a victim, they refer them to Trading Standards for an immediate intervention, which may also involve the police.

Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection at Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “National Safeguarding Day is the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of scams, and the kind of tactics fraudsters will use to commit their crimes.

“We are proud that here in Carmarthenshire we are making it more difficult than ever for the scammers by investing Proceeds of Crime Act funds into innovative schemes such as FESS to identify, protect and support victims.”

He added: “If anyone is concerned that they are a victim, or believe that someone they know could be a victim, please act quickly to get advice and support.

“We will work tirelessly to uncover fraudsters and help bring them to justice.”

The council have now issued some advice to help people to take a stand against scams by being aware about how to spot one.

Here are some things to look out for:

Out of the blue phone calls, letters and emails

Being asked to send money to claim a prize

Being told of winnings when a competition wasn’t entered

Too good to be true offers

Pressure selling

Uninvited door step callers

Being asked share your personal details

Secrecy

If you suspect a scam or think you or someone you know has been a victim of a scam, please report it to the Citizens Consumer Advice Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 20 40.

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards can be contacted on 01267 234567.