24/01/2013
Warning on Bogus Clothing Recycling Banks
We are all familiar with bogus charity clothing collectors
who go door to door, but warn Warwickshire Trading Standards, some bogus
collectors are now placing clothing banks in community recycling areas next to
clothing banks owned and operated by genuine charities.
One North Warwickshire village found such a metal clothing
bank in their recycling area alongside a genuine clothing bank. The bogus
clothing bank had been put in place without the permission or knowledge of
village organisations and was badged up with the name of a genuine charity that
when contacted, confirmed that the clothing bank was nothing to do with them.
The local authority and Police have been informed, but
village and town councils may wish to check that clothing banks in their area
have been placed legally. Falsely claiming to be a charity is a criminal
offence and residents/organisations can report these issues to Warwickshire
Trading Standards on 08454 040506.
23/01/2013
‘Ebay’ Caller Warning
A resident reported to Warwickshire Trading Standards taking a call from someone
phoning on an international number. The caller claimed to represent Ebay and
asked the resident if he had made a £94 purchase which the caller claimed was
fraudulent and would he like his money back? The resident was told he would
need to download a Western Union ‘reclaim form’ and was given some strange
instructions as to how to do this on his PC. The resident immediately put his
phone down.
Trading Standards think this was an elaborate attempt to gain access to
the residents computer, after which personal or financial information might be
stolen or viruses downloaded.
Ebay is very unlikely to make cold calls to consumers.
23/01/2013 Energy Sales Cold Calling
Scam
Consumers should
again beware of unexpected doorstep callers trying to get them to change their
energy supplier, warn Warwickshire Trading Standards. One elderly resident
received an unexpected visit from an energy company representative who asked
him to sign paperwork which he claimed was necessary to claim money back for
some insulation work the resident had had done some time ago. The caller also
asked for the residents date of birth and details of his energy bills. This
warn Trading Standards is a classic attempt to deceive a resident in to
changing his energy supplier without his knowledge or consent.
Consumers may save money by switching their energy
supplier. However, they should shop around and use comparison websites, not
sign up with the first person who comes to their door.
23/01/2012 Petrol Scam Update
Following our warning to consumers
about a petrol scam issued in December 2012 (see below), Warwickshire Trading
Standards has been alerted again to another incident. This time a resident was
flagged down on a road near Dunchurch by a man who again said he had run out of
petrol and asked for some money, offering some jewellery (probably cheap and
fake, in return). He also asked for a lift to the petrol station. The driver
said no and tried to drive off. The individual held on to the car and only let
go when he saw that the driver was not going to stop. The Police have been
informed.
22/01/2013
Rogue Snow Clearer Warning
Warwickshire Trading Standards is warning residents to beware of rogue
door to door traders offering to clear snow from pathways and driveways.
Officers have had reports that some rogue traders have switched from tarmacing
and roofing repairs to snow clearance. Rogue traders carry out poor work for
high prices and once they are on your property will look for other ‘jobs
’ to
do!
Residents are advised not to buy goods or services from unexpected
callers.
22/01/2013
Clothing Collectors
Warwickshire Trading Standards has again been alerted to clothing collectors
operating in the Warwick/Leamington Spa area. Residents are warned that not all
collectors are operating on behalf of a charity. Many collectors are businesses
who collect for profit, in a similar way to scrap metal collectors. If
consumers want their old clothing to benefit a charity, use a registered
charity bag, charity clothing bank or charity shop.
22/01/2013
Ministry of Justice Scam
A
Warwickshire resident who thought she was speaking to a Ministry of Justice
official when she was phoned unexpectedly has been conned out of over £600. The
bogus caller claimed she was owed money for mis-sold Payment Protection
Insurance. She was then asked to send over £600 in UKash vouchers in order to
receive her ‘refund’.
Warwickshire
Trading Standards Service is warning consumers that if they are asked to send
money in advance of receiving any rebate/winnings/compensation etc. then they have
almost certainly been targeted by fraudsters.
21/01/2013
Council Tax Rebate Warning
Warwickshire Trading Standards has received a number of complaints from residents
who have been targeted by businesses offering to sign them up to ‘Council Tax
Rebate Schemes’.
The businesses send residents paperwork to sign and then follow up with
high pressure phone calls. They claim to be able to lower the consumer’s
council tax. If they achieve a reduction, they will take a percentage of any
rebate a resident might be awarded.
HOWEVER residents
should be aware that it is FREE to challenge your council tax band and
that you DO NOT need to employ a third party to carry out this work for
you.
Residents should also be aware that by challenging their council tax, the
amount they pay could go up as well as down.
For more information, visit the Valuation Office Agency: http://www.voa.gov.uk/
There are also a number of consumer advice websites that can help you
decide if it is worth you challenging your band.
19/12/2012 Scrap Car Scam Warning
Consumers wanting to scrap
their cars are warned not to allow them to fall in to the hands of unscrupulous
scrap dealers Warwickshire Trading Standards Service is warning.
Consumers
are allowing their vehicles to be taken by scrap merchants without the proper
paperwork being completed, and then not receiving the money they were promised.
Many
of these ‘dodgy’ scrap dealers advertise on the Internet and some are using
false names and addresses.
Having
handed over their car, the owners then find out later that their vehicles are
not scrapped at all, but are instead ‘repaired’ and sold on or used by
criminals. And all the time, the original owner continues to be responsible for
the vehicle!
Consumers
have not only complained about not being paid for their cars but have also
reported receiving penalties for vehicles they thought were no longer their
responsibility. These include motoring offence fines and penalty points,
parking fines or DVLA fines for not having a properly insured or taxed vehicle.
Warwickshire
Trading Standards has received a number of reports recently about this scam. Here
is advice on what you should do if you want to scrap your car: https://www.gov.uk/scrapped-and-written-off-vehicles/overview
19/12/2012 Euro Lottery Scam
Consumers have reported receiving more
Euro Lottery scam letters, Warwickshire Trading Standards has reported. The latest claims that the ‘winner’
must pay 10% of his prize to a company that bought the ticket on his behalf! The letter's recipient is asked to
provide their bank details to send this 10% and receive their non-existent prize.
Never respond to these scams and bin
them! Find out more about ‘prize winner’ scams: http://tinyurl.com/cxlbb75
Warwickshire Consumer Empowerment Partnership Countywide launch. For more information visit:
27/11/2012 Fraudulent Credit Brokers
Warwickshire
Trading Standards are warning consumers looking for loans to beware of
cold calls from bogus loan companies offering to arrange loans for a
fee. One consumer was contacted by phone and offered a £3000 loan if he
agreed to pay £110 first. He paid and was then asked to send a further
£280 by Western Union transfer. The consumer paid again, a total of
£390, but the loan was not forthcoming and the trader disappeared.
Never respond to unsolicited texts or phone calls offering loans.
27/11/2012 Bogus Benefits Claims
Consumers,
warn Warwickshire Trading Standards, should not respond to
international callers claiming they are owed £1000 in benefits. Such
calls are advanced fee frauds where the caller will try and steal money
or personal or financial information in return for providing the
non-existent ‘benefits’.
27/11/2012 Scam computer ‘fix’ companies
Warwickshire
Trading Standards are again warning consumers not to engage with bogus
businesses who claim your computer is broken and needs repairing.
Consumers
should never allow anyone they don’t know or trust to take remote
access of their PC. Some consumers have reported receiving eight calls a
today from such fraudulent companies.
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