Thursday, 24 January 2013

Trading Standards - Recent Updates


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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