MEMBERS of a Mold club received important tips on how to deter scammers and bogus callers.

Mold Inner Wheel Club president Lyn Jones welcomed members to their April meeting at the Beaufort Park Hotel.

Their guest speaker was Claire Edge, a local intelligence liaison officer for Flintshire Trading Standards who also operates Flintshire’s Memex and trains new users across North Wales on how to use the data base.

During her address members were advised how to deal with doorstep crimes and scams.

Lyn Jones said: "Every week thousands of people lose tens of millions of pounds to scams, for many people this is their life savings.

Many scams start with a phone call.

"The advice given is 'keep calm and hang up' and 'cold callers - if in doubt keep them out'. If it feels wrong, it is wrong.

"It is a scam if someone offers you something that seems too good to be true, if you are pressurised into agreeing to something quickly, if you are asked to make a payment using UKCASH or Pay Safe, or if you are asked to hand over your credit card details on a cold call.

"Alarm bells should ring if offered a bogus Lottery or competition prize.

"Examples were given of distraction burglaries, doorstep crimes and courier scams and what steps to take.

"Never trust an ID card as they can easily be copied and dupe a victim. "Never give your bank account details, PIN number or date of birth or address when on the phone.

"It was advisable to fit a chain on the door or join a neighbourhood watch scheme."

Claire Edge received a cheque in appreciation which she will present to Nightingale House Hospice and McMillan Cancer Support.

Following a busy question and answer session, Lynn Pearse proposed the vote of thanks.

For a free home safety assessment and for free security equipment fitted in your home, residents are advised to ring Flintshire Council on 01352 701818.

Lyn Jones added: "Heartfelt thanks are due to members of the public who supported our recent fund raising coffee morning at Mold Daniel Owen Centre, when over £200 was raised for Hope House children’s Hospice and Jessie’s Fund which helps children with complex needs to communicate through music."

For further information about the club contact the Beaufort Park Hotel on 01352758646.