Kinlochleven students get to grips with mobile phone scams

Students from Kinlochleven High School are to take part in Highland Scam Awareness Month by testing their skills at spotting mobile phone scams. Pupils are taking part in a quiz organised by Trading Standards Officers of The Highland Council on Wednesday (27 February).

Fiona Reid, Principal Teacher from Kinlochleven High School, is pleased that students are able to take part and learn important life skills for the future. 

She said: “Young people are very good at communicating through text on their mobile phones.  As consumers, however, they are may be not aware of the costs of certain premium rate numbers or that they may be targeted as part of a scam.  We are delighted, therefore, that Trading Standards Officers of The Highland Council are visiting our school this week to raise awareness of these particular scams and how young people can get help and advice if they feel they have been overcharged or fallen victim to a scam.”

As an incentive for students to do their homework, students will be put into teams to answer a short quiz.  The winning team will win vouchers for a game of 10 pin bowling.  This has been donated by the Nevis Centre, Fort William. 

Glenys Brown, Trading Standards Officer, said: “The quiz will cover questions on the costs of running a mobile phone, charges to look out for and how to contact PhonePayPlus (formerly known as ICSTIS), which regulates premium rate line numbers, if they wish to complain about a particular operator.   Teams who have answered all the questions correctly will be put into a prize draw and the winning team will then be randomly selected.   All participants will receive small prizes and a certificate to say they have taken part in Highland Scam Awareness Month.   We hope to encourage young persons to be on the look out for mobile phone scams and to take action if they become a victim.” 

John MacLennan, Nevis Centre, Fort William states: “It’s an important message for all youngsters not to fall victim of mobile phone scams and to learn about costs of running a mobile phone, so they can budget their money sensibly.”  

The Mobile Phone Scams Quiz is part of Highland ‘Scamnesty’ Campaign which has been running throughout the area since 5th February and will finish on 27th February.

During this month Highland consumers have been asked to keep their eyes open for postal scams dropping through their letter boxes this month.  Highland Trading Standards, as part of Scam Awareness Month in February would like consumers to drop off any postal scams they receive to their local service point. 

Any postal scams received, can be dropped into specially marked ‘Scamnesty’ envelopes or boxes situated in local service points. 

Consumers who may like advice about scams can contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 to discuss their consumer complaint or write to:  Trading Standards Unit, The Highland Council, 38 Harbour Road, Inverness