FINE weather and a record number of stallholders helped attract a record crowd to yesterday's NSW Fair Trading Family Fun day at Dubbo.
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Fair Trading NSW was among 31 stallholders including CentaCare, Lifeline, Global Care, Service NSW, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre and Carers NSW.
Fair Trading regional manager north Paul Coles said the annual day was about connecting with the community and giving people a chance to gather information on what local services were available to them.
"We work in partnership with other agencies to deliver services, including CentaCare Wilcannia-Forbes to deliver meals and financial counselling services," Mr Coles said.
"And part of the day is a NAIDOC celebration, so we are not only building a link with the indigenous community we are honoured to be respected by the indigenous community to be here today," he said.
There were hundreds more people attending and the number of stallholders had tripled since the first fun day was held 11 years ago, according to Fair Trading customer service team manager Dubbo Kerrie Smith.
Information was available on a range of issues, including scams, services for seniors, renters' rights and strata living.
Ms Smith said some of the most common issues the department dealt with locally were those involving tenancy.
"And with people using the internet more these days, online transactions, scams and non-delivery of items are things we deal with a lot," she said.
While in recent times the department had undergone a shift in its focus from over-the-counter services, which were now provided through Service NSW, to concentrating on warnings, education and compliance, help was "just a phone call away" Mr Coles said.
Seniors and young people were particular groups that had been targeted by scammers, Ms Smith said.
"Especially when it comes to phony tradespeople who knock on seniors' doors, mobile phone contracts and faulty phones," she said.
"Some things we deal with and others we can refer people to help," she said.
Mr Coles said it was important for people to seek help sooner, rather than later, if something seemed suspicious.
"Often scams can end up quite serious, and people are ashamed to contact us, particularly if it involves a lot of money from overseas lotteries or is a romance scam.
"Sometimes they don't tell us until it's too late, so the message is if something is suspect, contact us early."
