Malcolm Harbour, West Midlands Conservative MEP is backing Scam Awareness Month throughout February. Mr Harbour has sent repeated warnings to the business community about a European-wide scam that has cost some businesses thousands of pounds.

Mr Harbour said: “We all need to be alert for scams, whether business scams or scams that affect us in our homes. No one is immune and we can all so easily be caught out if we are off our guard.

“A scam can be anything from criminal fraud to sharp, yet legal, selling practices designed to cheat someone. You can be targeted by post, by email or on your own doorstep. If it sounds too good to be true, then beware, it probably is.

“Hopefully this focus on scams of all types throughout February will help to prevent more victims.”