FCNW: March 2013

Monday, 11 March 2013

Trading Standards Scam Update 11/03/2013

11/03/2013 Timeshare Scam

A Bedworth resident and timeshare owner reported receiving an unexpected phone call from someone offering to compensate them after the resident was caught in a timeshare scam a number of years previously. The caller offered compensation of £5400 in return for a transfer fee of £860. Trading Standards advised the consumer that this was a scam. However, a few days later the consumer reported that £820 had been taken from his credit card. He then received another call from a Malaga based ‘legal’ firm to tell him that they could claim this money back – doubtless for another ‘fee’.

It is unclear as to whether the two incidents are linked. However, Warwickshire Trading Standards advice to consumers wishing to sell their timeshares is that they may well find it very difficult and that many of the unsolicited offers they receive will be scams.

11/03/2013 BP Fuel Card Scam

Users of BP fuel cards are warned to beware of unexpected emails that purport to come from BP and contain attached zip files. The folders are meant to contain bills but the accounts quoted in the email do not exist.

Warwickshire Trading Standards advise that consumers delete these emails without opening the attached files. Doing so may expose the consumer’s PC to viruses. If you believe an email is genuine, contact the business concerned on a publically listed telephone number.

11/03/2013 Parcel Deliver Scam

A consumer reported to Warwickshire Trading Standards receiving a bogus FedEx email. The email, sent by criminal gangs, claimed a parcel could not be delivered and asked the email recipient to click on a link in the email to print out a confirmation which could be taken to the nearest FedEx office.

Never click on a link in an unexpected/dubious email. You could be directed to a website infected by a virus. FedEx do not send out these sorts of emails.

11/03/2013 Further Petrol Scam Information

Warwickshire Trading Standards has received further information about the petrol scam. In this recent incident, a man of foreign appearance was reported to have flagged down a car in the Kineton area. The smartly dressed man said he was in ‘big trouble’ and asked for £20 petrol money and offered a ring and a business card in ‘repayment’. When the driver refused, the man and two accomplices drove off in a dark blue vehicle. The matter was a reported to Warwickshire Police who located the individual and dealt with the matter.

Warwickshire Trading Standards understand that this scam has taken place in a number of locations across South and East Warwickshire in the past few months. The jewellery being offered in return for petrol money is known to be fake and worthless. Drivers are advised not to stop and to report the matter to the Police as soon as it is safe to do so.

11/03/2013 High Risk Investments

Warwickshire Trading Standards are warning investors to beware of unexpected telephone calls from firms offering rare earth metal investments after a complaint from one Atherstone resident. The businesses making these calls are often very new and disappear as quickly as they appear. Rare earth metal investments are one of a number of ‘investment’ products which are unregulated, so consumers are largely unprotected. Those offering these investment products often used high pressure sales techniques and charge very high costs. Consumers have reported losing all their savings through such schemes. Take independent financial advice before making any investment decisions.

11/03/2013 Bogus Lottery

A Nuneaton resident complained to Warwickshire Trading Standards after she paid £8 to join a ‘lottery’ syndicate using her debit card. She then began to receive more mailings from the ‘lottery’ organisers asking her to pay for further services as well as other similar offers.

This is a scam. It is very likely that the lottery does not exist and that the regular payments being made by the consumer are simply going directly to the criminal gangs behind these fraudulent enterprises. Be very wary of any unexpected lottery offers, often sent by post. In particular, watch out for foreign lottery (and especially Spanish lottery) offers.

Please feel free to cascade this information to whomever 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.

For more information on scams, visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/warkstss

Simon Cripwell

Trading Standards Officer

Warwickshire Trading Standards Service

Communities

Warwickshire County Council

Old Budbrooke Road Warwick CV35 7DP

Tel: 01926 414039

Mob: 07771 975570

Email: simoncripwell@warwickshire.gov.uk

Web: www.warwickshire.gov.uk

My normal working days are Monday to Thursday

NHWN Our News March 2013

LINK

Friday, 8 March 2013

SNT Update

SOUTHAM 31JAN13

WELLESBOURNE 08MAR13

Metal Theft in Shotteswell
CATalytic converter theft
Call Crimestoppers - ANON

Has this happened to you?

........ Please take details and report to the police asap.

Reported to me today 1619 hrs

1050 hrs 8/3/13. Kineton residents driving towards Banbury along B4086 were flagged down near MOD entrance by Asian male about 5’6” in height smartly dressed in a business suit, who said they were ‘in big trouble’ and asked for £20 for petrol money, and offered a ring plus a business card in ‘repayment’.

Asian male apologises for broken English but then quickly becomes fluent. One other Asian male plus one female in a dark blue car (possibly a Ford Fiesta )facing towards Kineton; resident very firmly rejected request and locked her doors, at which point the second Asian driver of car started engine and immediately drove off, (when joined by first Asian), and when he realised he had been rumbled.

This is a scam which is well known to Warwickshire police and to Trading Standards .

(An exact description of what you have seen: The time and date; The place; A description of the people involved: Male/female: Age (approx): Height (approx): Hair (colour, length, etc): Clothing: Other distinguishing features: A description of any vehicle involved: Make and model (if known): Colour: Type (saloon, estate, etc): Registration number (even a part of this may help): The direction of travel.)

Dial 999 for emergencies and 101 for suspicious behaviour

Suspicious is fact accompanied by a feeling that ‘all is not well’.

Kineton Neighbourhood Watch

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

Scams for donors, businesses and an unenviable first for the UK

04/03/2013 Charity ‘Bin’ Scam North Warwickshire

Warwickshire Trading Standards has received a complaint that bogus charity bins have been appearing in recycling areas and car parks in North Warwickshire. The ‘bins’ may be roadside gritting containers that have been stolen, repainted and re-badged.

In these cases it is likely that any ‘donations’ would be sold for profit. Consumers concerned about the legitimacy of a charity clothing donation bin can report the matter to Warwickshire Trading Standards on 08454 040506.

04/03/2013 Voucher Offer Warning

Businesses in Warwickshire have complained to Warwickshire Trading Standards after being approached to advertise in a book of vouchers. A number of traders who were approached and paid to appear in the voucher booklet then discovered that the voucher booklet was not printed, but never received a refund.

04/03/2013 Patent Register Warning

Warwickshire Trading Standards is warning businesses to beware of invoice like letters associated with patents being sent from abroad. Warwickshire Trading Standards are concerned that some businesses may think these letters are invoices which are required to be paid for services already agreed and delivered, rather than an offer to place the business on a website directory.

Business owners should ensure their staff check invoices carefully before making any payments.

04/03/2013 UK Most Phished Country in 2012!

The UK was the world's most phished country in 2012 according to cyber security experts RSA. Consumers and businesses in the UK lost an estimated £27bn in 2012 through cybercrime. More than £600m of this was through phishing attacks, making it the most 'phished' country in the world.

Phishing emails are designed to look like a genuine email from your bank or an online store you transact with and try to get you to reveal personal and financial information by linking you to bogus websites.

Check any emails you receive from banks and businesses you transact with carefully and never click on links in unexpected or untrustworthy emails.

Phishing emails can be safely deleted. For more advice visit: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/wccweb.nsf/Links/5D0649278E3ED2CB80257886003647F7/$file/20120336 _Phishing.pdf