Tackling Economic Crime Awards 2021 - Winners Of The Outstanding Prevention Initiative

Tackling Economic Crime Awards 2021 - Winners Of The Outstanding Prevention Initiative!

The Tackling Economic Crime Awards (TECAs) are open to anyone working in the UK - operating in the public, private and third sector. The awards recognise and reward individuals, teams, initiatives and companies involved in tackling different areas of economic crime. 

Last year, Scam Marshals won the Outstanding Prevention Initiative award at the TECAs for their role in providing the team with real time intelligence on mail scams, and by going out into their communities to talk about scams to anyone that will listen.

This year, the National Trading Standards Scams Team have won the award for Outstanding Prevention Initiative for the Call Blocker Project!

The National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team secured government funding to provide free call blocking units to help protect people in receipt of scam & nuisance phone calls who felt their circumstance may have made them more likely to fall for a scam. All 2,000 units available on the project were applied for within eight days of the launch, highlighting the need for call blocking technology.

What impact did the units have?

• 99% of scam and nuisance calls were blocked by the units.
• 95% of applicants who previously felt threatened or scared by scam or nuisance calls no longer felt this way.
• 96% reported that the call blocker had a positive impact on their wellbeing.

Statement from the Tackling Economic Crime Awards: "The National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team helps tackle mass marketing scams and disrupts the operations of perpetrators behind mail scams. It works in partnership with agencies across the country to identify and support victims of mass marketing fraud. The team provides guidance, best practice and establishes a centre of excellence to assist local authorities in supporting local victims and taking local enforcement action. Judges felt this is a highly targeted initiative whose benefits are well evidenced; helping to protect and prevent fraud against the most vulnerable."

Find out more about the TECAs here: Home | Tackling Economic Crime Awards (TECAs) (thetecas.com)