Don’t Feed the shark! – Safer NPT’s campaign bites back at illegal money lenders

The Safer Neath Port Talbot Partnership has launched a campaign to help people recognise and avoid the pitfalls of illegal money lending.

The aim of the campaign, which has been made possible by a funding award from the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit,is to empower members of the public to take a stand against illegal money lenders, also known as loan sharks, by raising awareness of how to identify and report these unscrupulous individuals.

Councillor Leanne Jones, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Protection, said:

“One of the objectives in our corporate plan is that the whole of Neath Port Talbot county borough will be a vibrant, healthy and safe place to live, work and enjoy recreational time.

“Illegal money lending is a crime. These lenders operate without a license and often target vulnerable people. The aim of this campaign is to help people keep themselves safe by arming people with information on how to avoid loan sharks and on where to get help for those who fall victim”.

A spokesperson for the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit said:

“The Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit is busy throughout Wales investigating and prosecuting illegal lenders. There are loan sharks active in Neath Port Talbot right now! If you have any information for us, or need help, phone the free confidential helpline on 0300 123 33 11.”

Illegal money lenders usually start out friendly, but this changes when payments are missed. They usually don’t advertise, often relying on word of mouth to find borrowers.

They usually offer little or no paperwork and will quite often take cash cards, post office cards and pin numbers as collateral for loans.

Safer Neath Port Talbot are instead advising residents to contact their local credit union – organisations which offer advice on debt and budgeting as well as providing affordable savings and loans.For Neath Port Talbot this isCeltic Credit Union, who can be contacted on 0333 006 3002.

The campaign was launched this week with an information stand in Pontardawe Retail Park and another event on Wednesday at Aberafan Shopping Centre. A further event will be held in Neath Town Centre on Monday 19th August. Look out for information cards, magnets, pens and stickers.

Information will also be distributed throughout the county borough via food banks, credit unions, GP surgeries, job centres, Citizens Advice and other DA organisations.

Peidiwch â chael eich twyllo! – Ymgyrch CNPT Mwy Diogel yn brwydro yn ôl yn erbyn Benthycwyr Arian Anghyfreithlon

Mae Partneriaeth Castell-nedd Port Talbot Mwy Diogel wedi lansio ymgyrch i helpu pobl i adnabod ac osgoi peryglon benthyca arian yn anghyfreithlon.

Nod yr ymgyrch, a wnaed yn bosib drwy arian gan Uned Benthyca Arian Anghyfreithlon Cymru, yw grymuso aelodau’r cyhoedd i wrthwynebu benthycwyr arian anghyfreithlon, a adwaenir hefyd fel twyllwyr credyd, trwy gynyddu ymwybyddiaeth o sut i adnabod ac adrodd am unigolion diegwyddor hyn.

Meddai’r Cynghorwr Leanne Jones, Aelod y Cabinet dros Ddiogelwch Cymunedol a Diogelu’r Cyhoedd,

“Un o amcanion ein Cynllun Corfforaethol yw sicrhau bod bwrdeistref sirol gyfan Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn lle bywiog, iach a diogel i fyw, gweithio a threulio amser hamdden ynddo.

“Mae benthyca arian yn anghyfreithlon yn drosedd. Mae’r benthycwyr hyn yn gweithredu heb drwydded ac maent yn aml yn targedu pobl ddiamddiffyn. Nod yr ymgyrch hon yw helpu pobl i gadw eu hunain yn ddiogel trwy roi gwybodaeth iddynt am sut i osgoi twyllwyr credyd a gwybodaeth am ble i gael cymorth i’r rheini sy’n dioddef.”

Meddai llefarydd dros Uned Benthyca Arian Anghyfreithlon Cymru,

“Mae Uned Benthyca Arian Anghyfreithlon Cymru’n brysur ledled Cymru yn ymchwilio i fenthycwyr anghyfreithlon a’u herlyn. Mae twyllwyr credyd yn gweithredu yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot nawr! Os oes gennych unrhyw wybodaeth i ni, neu os oes angen cymorth arnoch, ffoniwch y llinell gymorth gyfrinachol am ddim ar 0300 123 33 11.”

Mae benthycwyr arian anghyfreithlon yn dueddol o ddechrau’n gyfeillgar, ond mae hyn yn newid pan gaiff taliadau eu methu. Dydyn nhw ddim yn hysbysebu fel arfer, gan ddibynnu’n aml ar bobl yn sgwrsio er mwyn dod o hyd i fenthycwyr.

Fel arfer, nid ydynt yn cynnig llawer o waith papur neu unrhyw waith papur o gwbl ac yn aml byddant yn derbyn cardiau arian, cardiau swyddfa’r post a rhifau PIN fel gwarant ar gyfer benthyciadau.

Mae Castell-nedd Port Talbot Mwy Diogel yn cynghori preswylwyr i gysylltu â’u hundeb credyd lleol yn lle – sefydliadau sy’n cynnig cyngor ar ddyled a chyllidebu yn ogystal â darparu cynilion a benthyciadau fforddiadwy. Undeb Credyd Celtic sydd gan Gastell-nedd Port Talbot, a gellir cysylltu â nhw drwy ffonio 0333 006 3002.

Lansiwyd yr ymgyrch yr wythnos hon gyda stondin wybodaeth ym Mharc Manwerthu Pontardawe a digwyddiad arall ddydd Mercher yng Nghanolfan Siopa Aberafan. Cynhelir digwyddiad bellach yng nghanol tref Castell-nedd ddydd Llun 19 Awst. Cadwch lygad am gardiau gwybodaeth, magnetau, pennau a sticeri.

Caiff wybodaeth ei dyrannu trwy’r fwrdeistref sirol hefyd drwy fanciau bwyd, undebau credyd, meddygfeydd, canolfannau byd gwaith, Cyngor ar Bopeth a sefydliadau Cyngor ar Ddebyd eraill.