David is far from an internet novice, having spent a significant part of his career using computers for financial work.

But he was conned by an online scammer who stole money from him within seconds of signing up to what appeared to be a legitimate initiative.

David, 71, plans to become a Scam Marshal to help others avoid being affected by similar experience to his. A Scam Marshal is someone who has been targeted by a scam and wants to fight back and take a stand. Scam Marshals do this by sharing their own experiences, helping others to report and recognise scams and sending any scam mail that they receive to the National Trading Standards Scams Team so it can be used as evidence in future investigative and enforcement work.

About his own experience of being scammed, David said: “I saw an advertisement for a plan that used an algorithm to track the stock market and make instant investments. It looked genuine and I thought I’d give it a go.

“I laid out £50 and almost immediately it disappeared from my account and I had no way of getting it back. I eventually discovered it went to a scammer working from Bulgaria. I felt foolish and angry.

“I like to think I’m reasonably savvy but I was taken in. The lesson is, if it looks too good to be true then you need to investigate it thoroughly. It has taught me a lesson and my family have learned from what happened. But there are always vulnerable people who can be targeted and that’s why I want to be a Scam Marshal - to help make sure they don’t get taken in and lose money.”

David, who volunteers as a tea party driver with Re-engage, recently joined us after hearing about our work from a nurse while he was being treated for cancer.

He added: “If I can help others by sharing my experience then I’m happy to do so.”