Nationwide Building Society is holding a free Fraud Awareness Day at M The Galleries in Washington, Tyne and Wear, on February 27, 2026. The event is designed to give shoppers face-to-face help with spotting scams and staying safe while using the internet. It comes at a time when local residents are being encouraged to be more careful with their personal information and money.
Experts will be at the shopping centre between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm to offer guidance and practical tips to everyone. The session is open to all members of the public, and you do not need to be a customer of the building society to get help. This face-to-face support is aimed at helping older shoppers and local residents who might be worried about being targeted by financial criminals.
People can also get support with digital skills for their smartphones, tablets, and other online services during the visit. The team will help residents feel more confident with everyday digital tasks, such as using banking apps and keeping their personal details secure while browsing. This support is intended to make it easier for people to navigate the digital world without being tricked by sophisticated scams.
This advice comes as Northumbria Police reported that victims of payment scams in the region lost an average of £82,000 each between April 2024 and March 2025. Other local records show that dating and romance scams cost people in the North East area £4.3 million over a recent three-year period. These figures show a significant rise in criminals targeting people in the Tyne and Wear area through phone calls and the internet.
The building society is hosting the awareness day following a £44 million fine from the Financial Conduct Authority in December 2025. The fine was handed down because of previous failings in how the company managed its security checks to prevent financial crime from happening. By bringing experts to the shopping centre, the society aims to improve financial safety and help residents protect their savings in the future.
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