Action Fraud, the National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, are warning people to watch out for official looking emails purporting to be from the Royal Mail that claim a package has been seized by HM Revenue & Customs upon arrival into the United Kingdom. The emails contain a link to a document that will install malicious software on your computer designed to steal credentials like account names, email addresses and passwords etc.
If you receive one of these emails, do not click on any links or download any attachments and report it to Action Fraud
You can find out more about the scam here, where you can also sign up for fraud and scam alerts.
The Action Fraud site has lots of useful information about types of fraud to watch out for, reporting forms and other resources.
Showing posts with label scam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scam. Show all posts
Monday, 8 February 2016
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Unsure? Close the door
A nasty scam, this one...
Age UK South Gloucestershire has been made aware of an incident where a bogus caller, claiming to be one of their representatives, cold called an older person offering to undertake some home decorating and repairs. The rogue caller then asked for money to buy materials.
Age UK South Gloucestershire want to remind older people across the area that they never make unsolicited cold calls to people’s homes. Their representatives help many older people, either their volunteers who offer a befriending service or their Information and Advice workers who help with benefits advice and form completion. However, their visit will never be unexpected. Age UK's professionals always make appointments and never cold call.
In addition Age UK South Gloucestershire will never ask for any money for their advice. Neither will they ask if you keep money in your home.
Their professionals carry official identification and will encourage you to scrutinise it. If you are ever unsure about a caller who claims to be from Age UK South Gloucestershire please close your front door and call Age Concern's office number. The professionals will not be offended if you are cautious. If you feel unhappy or intimidated please call the police on 999.
If you think that you or someone you know has been a victim of a bogus caller please contact Trading Standards, Age UK South Gloucestershire or the police on 101. However if you feel a crime is in progress call 999.
Age UK South Gloucestershire has been made aware of an incident where a bogus caller, claiming to be one of their representatives, cold called an older person offering to undertake some home decorating and repairs. The rogue caller then asked for money to buy materials.
Age UK South Gloucestershire want to remind older people across the area that they never make unsolicited cold calls to people’s homes. Their representatives help many older people, either their volunteers who offer a befriending service or their Information and Advice workers who help with benefits advice and form completion. However, their visit will never be unexpected. Age UK's professionals always make appointments and never cold call.
In addition Age UK South Gloucestershire will never ask for any money for their advice. Neither will they ask if you keep money in your home.
Their professionals carry official identification and will encourage you to scrutinise it. If you are ever unsure about a caller who claims to be from Age UK South Gloucestershire please close your front door and call Age Concern's office number. The professionals will not be offended if you are cautious. If you feel unhappy or intimidated please call the police on 999.
If you think that you or someone you know has been a victim of a bogus caller please contact Trading Standards, Age UK South Gloucestershire or the police on 101. However if you feel a crime is in progress call 999.
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Scammers target businesses
Yesterday we posted a warning about scammers targetting local residents, but consumers
are not the only ones to fall victim. Businesses too are targetted. One scam is the ‘advertising scam’.
The message is - don't take the caller’s word for it that you have entered into a
contract. If you haven't agreed to advertising then you cannot be held liable
for the payment being demanded. Never agree to anything over the phone -
For consumer advice contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
Your business may receive a phone call about placing an advert in a publication such as a wall planner or directory in aid of drugs awareness in schools, the emergency services or another charitable purpose.You may be told that you have agreed to place an order or that someone else in your business has. This tactic is used to confuse you so you won't question the caller and will pay up. They may even claim to have a telephone recording of you agreeing to the contract.
If
you think you have fallen victim to such a scam, please contact Trading
Standards for advice
on 01454 864419 (businesses only)
.
on 01454 864419 (businesses only)
.
For consumer advice contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Watch out for scams!
Trading Standards are once again warning local people to be on their guard against scams.
- There are reports of rogue traders targeting residents in the Yate, Westerleigh and Filton areas offering block paving, landscaping and patio laying services.
- A new tactic is cold calling residents and offering to clean and seal your path or driveway for a cash payment.
There are some
concerns that these traders are not providing consumers with written notice of
their right to cancel, which is a criminal offence, and that they are using
aggressive tactics to convince residents to agree to the work.
There are a number
of steps you can take to try and avoid becoming the victim of a rogue
trader.
- Be wary of traders who cold call and the deals they offer you – it is unusual for genuine tradesmen to need to cold call to drum up work!
- Do not allow any unknown and unexpected visitor into your home.
- If they claim work needs doing, get a second or even third opinion from other professional tradesman.
- If you agree to work you are afforded cancellation rights by law, and these should be given to you in writing.
- Check any paperwork you are given to make sure it has not been backdated and includes everything you have agreed to.
- If you are unhappy or feel intimidated by the visitor – shut the door and call the police.
If you do have work
you wish to be carried out, why not use a trader who is a member of the Trading
Standards operated Buy With Confidence scheme?
For a list of
approved traders, visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk
or contact South Gloucestershire Trading Standards
on 01454 864419 or email trading.standards@southglos.gov.uk.
If you believe you
have fallen victim to a rogue trader, or would like some further pre-shopping
advice, please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Watch out for paving contract scam
South Gloucestershire trading standards is urging local residents to be very careful signing home improvement contracts when dealing with doorstep salespeople.
Legally you are entitled to a seven-day cooling off period after signing a contract with a door-step trader. During that time you can back out of the agreement with no consequences. However, several block paving businesses which operate in the region are suspected to be routinely back-dating contracts when they are signed by customers, preventing them from exercising their right to back out.
The workmen then turn up at the customer's property, usually when they are not at home, and start digging up the driveway. When the customer complains, the business may refer them to the contract which makes it look as if it was signed over a month ago.
It is a criminal offence for doorstep traders not to give customers a written notice of their right to cancel the agreement within seven days of signing it, but this may be waived by the customer only if they sign to say that work can start immediately. Most block paving businesses give such written notice, but some use the tactic of writing an earlier date on the contract so that they can effectively start work immediately and it looks as if the customer has already had their seven day cooling off period.
Anyone entering into such an agreement is recommended to check any date that is written on the agreement straight away and make the salesperson correct it if an earlier date is written on there. If you feel that you have been duped by this method and the work has started within the seven days without your consent, please report the business to Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
Legally you are entitled to a seven-day cooling off period after signing a contract with a door-step trader. During that time you can back out of the agreement with no consequences. However, several block paving businesses which operate in the region are suspected to be routinely back-dating contracts when they are signed by customers, preventing them from exercising their right to back out.
The workmen then turn up at the customer's property, usually when they are not at home, and start digging up the driveway. When the customer complains, the business may refer them to the contract which makes it look as if it was signed over a month ago.
It is a criminal offence for doorstep traders not to give customers a written notice of their right to cancel the agreement within seven days of signing it, but this may be waived by the customer only if they sign to say that work can start immediately. Most block paving businesses give such written notice, but some use the tactic of writing an earlier date on the contract so that they can effectively start work immediately and it looks as if the customer has already had their seven day cooling off period.
Anyone entering into such an agreement is recommended to check any date that is written on the agreement straight away and make the salesperson correct it if an earlier date is written on there. If you feel that you have been duped by this method and the work has started within the seven days without your consent, please report the business to Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
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