Scams
You can find further help and advice to avoid becomming the latest victim of a scam over at Consumer Direct
Don't be a Scam Mail Victim
Click link for help and advice about scam mail. http://www.thinkjessica.com/
Voucher Scam Warning
'Trading Standards would like to highlight a scam that is currently in circulation involving the purchase of vouchers. Consumers have reported receiving unsolicited calls from a source purporting to be a representative from a government department who advises them that they are entitled to a voucher which can be redeemed at a later stage for a much higher value.
The consumer is instructed to purchase the voucher via a 'PayPoint' terminal with an initial cost to the consumer of £200. The purchase is processed and the voucher printed off by the terminal and handed over to the consumer.
The consumer receives another call from the scammer and is asked for the number printed on the voucher - without this it cannot be redeemed for the higher value which can be as much as £3000. Of course, this is not the case as the voucher cannot be redeemed for a higher amount.
The consumer has also lost the ability to spend the value of the original voucher as the caller now has a record of the voucher number and can now use this information to make his own purchases online.
If you have been duped into purchasing a voucher under these circumstances you should contact the voucher provider and report the voucher as lost or stolen. If the voucher has not been spent then the value may be refunded - but act quickly, if the voucher has been used you will not be entitled to anything. To report a scam or for further advice, call Consumer Direct Scotland on 08454 040506.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Consumerrights/index.htm'
Doorstep selling
There are traders who call at your door who are honest and genuine. However there are others who may look to take advantage of you by using clever and persuasive tactics.
They range from high pressure salesmen through to rogue traders, confidence tricksters and distraction burglars, and may provide unfair contracts, overpriced or substandard home improvements, phoney consumer surveys and bogus charity collections.
Under legislation recently introduced it is now an offence for a salesman to fail to leave your property when asked, and such instances can be reported to us for further investigation.
What reputable callers should do:
- Present personal identification and identify who they represent.
- Make it clear from the outset if they are selling something.
- Provide written information on cooling off periods and cancellation rights.
- Avoid using pressure to sell goods or services.
- Not expect an on-the-spot decision.
- Leave as soon as they are asked to do so.
How to protect yourself
Think!
- Do you feel safe letting the caller into your home?
- Do you feel under any pressure?
- Do you feel your emotions are being used or manipulated (e.g. subjected to scare stories or exaggerated claims)?
- Do you know the full costs (e.g. including estimates, delivery and installation) of the transaction?
- Have you compared prices for the same goods or services?
- Do you understand your rights if you sign a contract?
- Do you know the arrangements for after-sales servicing (e.g. guarantees or warranties)?
- Could you contact the trader again if you have problems at a later date?
Question!
- Has the caller identified themselves and their company to yoursatisfaction? (Make a note of these details and do not feel pressured into making a snap decision. You can check the details in a telephone directory or speak to your local trading standards service if in doubt.)
- Has the caller engaged your interest by questionable means (e.g. claiming to be conducting a survey or representing a charity)?
- Has the caller offered you a “once only” price for agreeing to the transaction on the spot?
- Is the caller offering something you really want or need?
- Has the caller aroused any suspicions about themselves, their methods or their motives?
- Decide. Only if you are satisfied that the transaction is entirely acceptable and that the decision is entirely your own should you agree to make a purchase.
Say No!
- Say you do not buy goods or services at the door.
- Say you want more time to think about it.
- Say you want to compare prices by getting other quotes.
- Say you have to discuss it with someone else (e.g. your partner or son/daughter).
Do you really know who you are donating
your old clothes to?
Doorstep collections of second hand clothing is an increasingly popular activity but if you want to make sure that your donations go to an organisation or charity that you want to support then take a little time and be careful about who you donate to.
It has been estimated that charities lose between £2.5 million and £3 million a year because of theft and people mistakenly giving clothing to commercial companies in the belief they are charities.
Many leaflets are put through letter boxes however only a few will be from genuine charities.
We advise consumers to read the leaflet carefully and don’t be tempted to read between the lines or assume the organisation is a charity. A genuine charity will state this on the leaflet, provide their registered charity number and make it clear what cause your donations will help and support.
There are other commercial organisations that are involved in clothing collections and although they may be acting legally, their leaflets may be largely indistinguishable from charities, unless people know what to look for.
Tips for spotting a genuine charity collection:
• Does the sack or leaflet say the collection is for a registered charity? If so, what's the registered charity number - visit the online register of charities to check that it's genuine.
• Does it only give a registered company number? If so it is unlikely to be a charity.
• Is the charity actually named? Be wary of wording that just says 'families in need' or 'sick kids' as this could be an indication that it is not a genuine charity.
Does the leaflet or bag give a phone number? If not, it may mean the collectors don't want to answer questions.
You can of course donate your clothing to any organisation or business of your choosing but if your intention is to help charitable organisations then by taking a little time you should ensure your donation goes to who you want to help.
Ticket Scams
The Office of Fair Trading has launched its "Just Tick It" campaign which aims to raise consumer awareness of scam event ticket websites. Practical advice is also provided on how to avoid falling victim to the scam.
Consumers are advised:
- If it seems too good to be true it probably is
- Be aware that scam ticket websites exist
- Know how to protect your self when buying event tickets online
- Further advice and a checklist are available at link below
Find out more about ticketscams
Elderly Victims of Scams
The OFT has launched a campaign to highlight the need for the elderly as well as their friends, family and carers to be alert to scams which causes misery to thousands of people each year.
OFT research has identified that the elderly lose twice as much per scam as others and potentially may lose their life savings as well as be affected by subsequent ill health.
The advice to the elderly includes:
- Discuss any offer with friends or relatives before replying
- 090 numbers are charged at a premium rate
- Never send money to receive winnings or prizes
- Never provide bank details to people you don’t know
Ignore psychic letters, good or bad luck letters and other chain letters and never send money. If the person feels they must pass the letter on then send them to Trading Standards..
The advice to friends, family and other carers includes:
- look out for warning signs such as a lot of junk mail being delivered (once a person has responded to a scam they will be put on a “suckers” list and be inundated with other bogus offers.
- Are lots of telephone calls from strangers being received?
- Has the person become unusually secretive about discussing finances?
- Any discussions about scams however should be carried out in a way that doesn’t cause unnecessary alarm.
It is possible for any body including the elderly to be naïve about the existence of scams and the attempts of criminals to con them out of their money. It can be a delicate subject but to assist in this the OFT has published the following two leaflets which can be obtained from Consumer Protection or downloaded for free. Just click on the following links.
Please note that these are links to Adobe pdf documents on an external website.
Further advice on scams can be obtained from Consumer Direct Scotland.
Interactive guide on scam letters.
'The OFT has launched a series of interactive scam guides designed to help people avoid being tricked into losing money. The guides expose the clever tactics used by scammers and are the OFT’s latest tool in the fight against the scams that cost UK consumers £3.5 billion every year.
There are three interactive guides available – a ‘prize draw’ scam mailing, a bogus ‘lottery’ mailing and a fake ‘clairvoyant’ mailing, all similar to the type that drop onto the doormats of thousands of people across the UK every day. Each guide contains ‘pop-up’ text highlighting the tricks used by the scammers to convince people that the letters are genuine. For example, clairvoyant mailings use the recipient’s name over and over again, and include printed sections that look like they have been hand-written, when in fact the exact same letter will have been sent to thousands of other people at the same time.
Recent research conducted by the OFT indicates that foreign lottery, prize draw and clairvoyant scams cost consumers more than £350 million every year, with individuals being targeted repeatedly and sometimes losing tens of thousands of pounds. People receiving unsolicited mail that they suspect may be part of a scam can check it for the kinds of tricks explained in the OFT guides before responding, and others who suspect that relatives or friends are at risk can show them examples of what to watch out for.
Christine Wade, Assistant Chief Executive, Consumer Advice and Trading Standards said: 'Lottery, prize draw and clairvoyant scams can cause untold hurt and harm to the people who are deceived into responding. These guides show people the tricks that scammers regularly use and make it easier for people to protect themselves against scams.'
The interactive scams guides can be found on www.oft.gov.uk Consumers who are unsure about unsolicited mailings that they have received can contact Consumer Direct for clear, practical advice on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk. before they part with any money.'
