Warwickshire Trading Standards is warning householders to beware of unsolicited phone calls from as yet unidentified people offering to cancel credit agreements using a change in the Consumer Credit Act 1974. The callers are reported to be asking consumers for their bank account details and when challenged, refuse to give their names and put the phone down.
Trading Standards Officers advise consumers that they should under no circumstances provide any personal or financial information to people who make unsolicited calls to them. If you think a call is genuine, ask to phone the business back on a publically listed and verifiable telephone number.
It is unclear that this stage whether the calls originate from debt management businesses or are simply crude attempts to steal personal or financial information which could then be used for fraudulent purposes.
Consumers requiring advice or wishing to complain should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
Advice on managing debt is available from the Citizens Advice Bureau, telephone 08444 111 444 for options (England) and from the National Debtline, telephone 0808 808 4000.
29/06/2011 Aggressive Insurance Mis-Selling Calls
Warwickshire Trading Standards has received information from consumers concerning the aggressive practises of some companies offering to claim back mis sold insurance, usually payment protection insurance (PPI).
One householder received a cold call (on the telephone) from someone asking him if he had been mis sold any insurance and whether he had paid for the insurance using a credit card . The householder said he was not interested and put the phone down, but the caller phoned back again immediately and used more aggressive language. The callers number was unobtainable.
Seeking compensation for mis-sold insurance is perfectly legitimate, but Warwickshire Trading Standards Service advises consumers to seek expert advice from organisations such as the Financial Ombudsman Service, before embarking on any claims and not to provide personal or financial information to a cold caller.
Visit: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
29/06/2011 Bogus Parcel Delivery Claims
Warwickshire Trading Standards has been alerted to an email scam involving a bogus parcel delivery service. The names of well known parcel delivery companies are fraudulently used on the bogus emails which claim the email recipient is about to receive a parcel in the post and is requested to provide personal and financial information in order for delivery to take place.
The bogus emails are sent by criminal gangs, intent on stealing your personal or financial information. Never respond to such as email or click on a link or open an attachment contained in it. By doing so, you also risk infecting your PC with a virus. Delete the email immediately.
For more information about 'Phishing' scams, visit our website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams
- Please feel free to cascade this information to whom ever you feel appropriate (including using the information in your newsletters/websites etc.).
- If you have any information you wish to provide to Warwickshire Trading Standards Service, either for our information, or to appear in future email alerts, please email me.
- To add, amend or remove your details from this email circulation list, again, please email me.
- A list of all the latest email alerts is available on our website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards
Simon Cripwell
Senior Information Officer
Trading Standards Service
Environment and Economy Directorate
Warwickshire County Council
tel. 01926 414039
mob. 07771 975570
email. simoncripwell@warwickshire.gov.uk
web. www.warwickshire.gov.uk
My normal working days are Monday to Thursday
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