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Older scams still in use

Internet and mail warning

Mail warning

Businesses are being warned not to get caught in a new web of deceit that could cost them up to £270. Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service has become aware of invoices being sent to businesses requesting money to renew their internet domain name.

The bill is headed 'Domain Expiration Notice' and is sent out by a company using both a London and a Cambridge address. It states that the recipient's internet domain name is due to expire and requests a renewal fee of £60 for 2 years, £140 for 5 years or £270 for 10 years, even though Nominet UK (the .uk internet registry) only allows domain names to be renewed for 2 years at a time. The invoice tells the recipient that if the fee is not paid then they may lose their domain name.

Trading Standards advise that Businesses should not pay money over to this trader as there is no guarantee that the domain name will be renewed, Businesses should check all invoices carefully. If your domain name is due for renewal, you should contact your existing registration agent for further advice.

Lancashire County Council Trading Standards
58-60 Guildhall Street
Preston
PR1 3NU

Telephone: 0845 600 1352
E-mail: tsd@ts.lancscc.gov.uk

More information on domain name registration can be found on the Nominet UK website at www.nic.uk Nominet UK is the registry for.uk internet name registration and is recognised by the internet industry, users and the Government. The organisation does not proactively sell domain name registrations but provides advice on registering and maintaining names.

Email warning

Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service is warning consumers to be on the look out for the latest wave of fraudulent e-mails hitting the county.

The e-mail claims to be from various reputable high street banks and requests that information regarding the recipient's on line bank account be provided under the pretence of verifying the account. The e-mails are sent to a wide range of internet users, not just to those who have accounts with the bank concerned, in the hope that unsuspecting customers will forward their account access details and then fraudulent withdrawals will be made.

Lancashire Standards advises that these are not genuine e-mails. If you receive any such e-mail do not access any of the links contained within it or provide any banking details. If you are concerned that you have received this e-mail and may have divulged your details or suspect the security of your account has been compromised then consumers should contact their bank immediately.