January 2009 to February 2009
To skip to a specific alert select from the list below:
- Bogus caller warnings-Cold Calling Claims Company
- Bogus caller warnings-Alarm Company
- Bogus caller warnings-Driveway and Roofing Scams
- Bogus caller warnings-Internet Scams on the increase
- Bogus caller warnings-Secruity Pen Marking Company
- Bogus caller warnings-Household Linen Sellers
- Bogus caller warnings-Helping Hands
- Bogus caller warnings-Tax Returns
Bogus warnings-Cold Calling Claims Company
16 February 2009
RESIDENTS in Lancashire are being warned to be on their guard for telephone calls from businesses claiming to be able to claim back bank charges.
This follows enquiries from over fifty Lancashire residents who have received unsolicited telephone calls from a company called CMS (Credit Management Systems) stating that they were able to claim back bank charges incurred by the consumer. The company provides an address of either Swansea or Port Talbot in West Glamorgan .
The business asks for £49.99 for this service but wants personal information from the consumer including their bank account details.
Quite rightly, consumers have been concerned about releasing such information as most banks, building societies and Trading Standards Services warn against giving such information over the telephone. Whilst there is no reason to believe this particular business is seeking to misuse any information, we would always advise consumers never to respond to unsolicited emails, letters or telephone calls asking for bank or credit card details.
The Ministry of Justice has responsibility under The Compensation Act 2006 for the regulation of claims management activities. Under this law such businesses must be authorised by the Ministry and offences occur when companies provide claims management services without authorisation. Although Credit Management Systems is currently authorised, we are concerned about their selling methods and we have referred the matter to the Ministry of Justice.
Over the last few days a number of Aughton and Ormskirk residents have received telephone calls from a company claiming to offer free burglar alarms. The salesperson says that they have representatives in the area and that they will visit and survey the house for a free alarm, valued at £4,000.
They will tell you that they will also waive the £450 installation cost and the annual maintenance cost.
Does this sound too good to be true? Of course it does – because it is!
If you let them into your house they may try to persuade you of the benefits of their burglar alarm systems. They may also tell you that they are working with the police. This is not true. Unscrupulous sales people prey on those who might feel insecure, especially following the recent burglaries in the area.
Bogus warnings-Driveway and Roofing Scam
11th February 2009
Firstly we wish to warn consumers against a paving/driveways/landscaping company giving a Stockport Road , Manchester address and an 0161 number. The trader cold calls delivering orange flyers offering all types of driveway, fencing, walls, landscaping, turfing jobs, and stating 'All work guaranteed to British Standards'. The main man is Irish but is believed to employ itinerant labourers from other countries, and the workers travel in dark 4x4 and a white transit van. No paperwork or cancellation rights are given- a criminal offence- and the quality of the work carried out is believed to be poor and overcharged.
The company have been targeting residents in the Penwortham/ Preston area over the weekend but are likely to also be working elsewhere in Lancashire .
Secondly we would like to advise residents that a roof warranty company giving an address in St Annes is operating widely throughout the county, cold calling and charging £1,500 for a 5 year contract to maintain a household roof. Consumers are advised that the warranty only covers annual inspection, together with annual emptying of gutters, cleaning of fascias etc and up to 8 hours free labour. Before taking out such a contract consumers are advised to think carefully about the value of service they are obtaining for the large amount of money paid out. Consumers, often elderly, are being persuaded into such warranties on fairly new roofs which should not require any significant maintenance.
Bogus warnings-Internet Scams on the increase
11 February 2009
Lancashire Trading Standards Service is urging internet users to be vigilant against online fraudsters as recent national research of 1400 adults shows that online scams are on the increase. This type of fraud accounts for a substantial part of the estimated three million UK consumers who fall victim to scams sent by email, internet, post, text, and the phone every year, collectively losing £3.5billion.
23 per cent of UK internet users surveyed said that they, or their close friends and family, had been targeted by phishing scams in the past 12 months, compared to just eight per cent the year before, while over 1 in 6 had fallen prey to other scam emails or websites.
Trading Standards warns that the findings highlight the increasing need for vigilance against online fraudsters, and reminds the public to be vigilant to the dangers of ever more sophisticated online scams. Never respond to offers promising vast lottery wins or 'get rich quick' opportunities and never disclose personal details to people you don't know.
Three of the most common e-mail scams which consumers should look out for are:
1 Phishing - the email appears to come from your bank, a company you regularly do business with, a Government Department or from your social networking site and directs you to a mocked up website that asks you to provide personal data such as account details, passwords and credit card numbers. The site is fake and your details can be used to commit identity fraud.
2 Bogus foreign lotteries - you are told you have won a foreign lottery but to claim your winnings must send off money to cover administrative fees. Often your personal details will also be requested and used to commit identity fraud.
3 Advance fee scams - someone asks you to help transfer a large sum of money out of a foreign country in return for a share of the spoils but they are just looking to empty your bank account. A recent variation involves being asked to part with money for "taxes" and "visas" in relation for a fake job offer.
People who have fallen victim to internet frauds should contact their local police station. Phishing emails should be reported to the relevant bank using the contact details on their website or by sending an email to reports@banksafeonline.org.uk, as well as your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Bogus warnings-Security Pen Marking Company
4 February 2009
Residents in the Ashton on Ribble area are advised that they may receive an unsolicited phone call from a company stating that they are in the area, and offering to come to houses and mark valuables with a security pen. Although we have no information to suggest the company behind these calls is bogus, clearly it is inadvisable to let cold callers into a private house, or to show your valuables to someone you have no prior knowledge of.
Bogus warnings-Household Linen Sellers
Reports have also been received from different parts of the country about young people going door-to-door selling household linen and cleaning products. The young people tell the householders they are on a rehabilitation course arranged by the Probation Service. It is understood that the National Probation Service has not identified any projects where offenders approach members of the public via door-to-door enquiries, and does not issue identity badges to offenders.
Bogus warnings-Helping Hands
26 January 2009
Residents are advised that doorstep sellers from a company called Helping Hands have been operating in the Walton le Dale area of Preston in the last few days, selling tea towels and other items door to door. The group consists of a number of salesmen and a team leader, each with a photo ID, who travel together then split up to cover a residential area. They are believed to be currently staying in the Blackpool area, and may be in Lancashire for some time, covering other areas.
Although we have no information to suggest these particular traders are breaking the law, we strongly advise consumers never to deal with cold callers
Bogus warnings-Tax returns
8 January 2009
Fraudsters are targeting taxpayers with thousands of scam emails in the run up to the 31 January Self Assessment tax deadline HM Revenue & Customs said today. HMRC also warned the public to be aware of further fraudulent attempts to obtain personal information after the 31 January deadline has passed when many people will be waiting to hear about genuine tax refunds.
The scams tell the recipient they are due a tax refund and ask for bank or credit card details so that the fictitious tax refund can be paid out. HMRC is also aware of a growing number of telephone scams with fraudsters posing as tax officials arranging rebate payments.
All customers who provide their details to the fraudsters risk their accounts being emptied and credit cards used to their limit. The victim also risks having their personal details sold on to other organised criminal gangs.
HMRC strongly advises:
* that any email appearing to originate from HMRC and which offers a tax refund should be forwarded unopened to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
* Do not click on websites links contained in suspicious emails or open attachments.
If in doubt, please check it out with HMRC at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk /security/fraud-attempts.htm
Further information:
1. Since April 2008 HMRC has received over 11,000 reports of fraudulent repayment emails.
2. Do not visit the website contained within the email or disclose any personal or payment information.
Email addresses used to distribute the tax rebate emails include:
* refundtax@hmrc.gov.co.uk
* TaxRefund@hmrc.gov.uk
* service@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
* claims@hmrc.direct.gov.uk
* notice@hmrc.gov.uk
* hmrc@hmrc.gov.uk
* admin@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
* info@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
* no-reply@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
HMRC does not send out emails using these email addresses.
If there is any loss of money the matter should be referred to the police .