Scam advice session comes to Ravenswood branch

Why it matters: Fraud and scams are at record levels in the UK, according to the Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System (Cifas), with millions of cases reported each year and losses running into billions of pounds.

The details: The session will run from 09:00 to 13:00 and forms part of a wider programme of scam awareness days the building society has run in Ipswich town centre, Ravenswood and Sudbury over the past year.

New research commissioned by the Building Societies Association (BSA) found that:

• 26% of customers nationally say branch staff have helped them avoid or resolve a scam
• One-third (33%) of customers report receiving fraud prevention guidance during branch visits
• Two-thirds (68%) say their branch helps them feel their money is safe

What they're saying: Nathan Wade, head of membership at Suffolk Building Society, said: "The BSA research reflects the experience of our branch staff, who regularly support customers with scam-related issues. In many cases, we can step in before any financial harm occurs. It's a 'human layer' of protection that can help identify risks and prevent scams occurring brought about by everyday conversations and trusted relationships. This includes being in some Suffolk towns where there is no longer a bank branch presence, such as Felixstowe. We're also proactive in our approach to scam awareness education, running in-branch sessions and inviting two police cyber security advisors as guest speakers at our 2025 AGM."

For context: Suffolk Building Society has ten branches across the county, including Ipswich Town Centre and Ravenswood. It has 60,000 members, over 69,000 savings accounts and 4,500 mortgage accounts, and was established in 1849.

The bottom line: With scams growing more sophisticated, Suffolk Building Society says its branch network – including the upcoming Ravenswood session – offers residents a face-to-face safeguard as well as expert advice from police and Trading Standards.

The drop-in session takes place at the Ravenswood branch on Monday, 13 July 2026, between 09:00 and 13:00.

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