Latest Trading Standards News 5th March 2009

Bogus Callers Alert

West Sussex residents are being asked to be careful when dealing with anyone who knocks on their door unannounced. There have been recent incidents in neighbouring counties which may be repeated in West Sussex.

Individuals will call at the home of an elderly resident and claim to be from Customs & Excise . The bogus caller will claim that the resident will have to pay extra for VAT owing on work carried out, whether they have had the work carried out or not. Sums in excess of £34,000 have been demanded. If you are approached by such cold callers, please let Trading Standards know on 01243 642124 .

Latest Trading Standards News 2nd February 2009

POLICE ALERT - Operation Inroad

There has been an increase in bogus police officer distraction burglaries across the County . The peak time for offending is 3-5pm. A recent crime involved the offenders wearing a fluorescent jacked marked with 'Police' on the rear.

Scamnesty 2009 - Feb 2nd-15th

West Sussex County Council Trading Standards have linked up with the library service colleagues to put the bite on con artists who send out rip off mail.

This is part of the Office of Fair Trading Scamnesty campaign.

Residents are being asked to take any suspect mail they receive to their local library.

If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, visit

www.consumerdirect .gov.uk.

ALWAYS SAY "NO" TO DOORSTEP CALLERS

If they offer to do work on your property, to buy or sell you goods say "No Thanks" and shut the door

We want you to say "NO" to doorstep callers because:

They may pressurise or intimidate you to let them do work

You may not really need the work done

They may lie about the real cost of the work

You may not get what you pay for

You could end up paying more than you expected

They may lie about their name, address and telephone number

The goods may be overpriced, faulty or unsuitable for you

You may not be offered the true value of your goods.

If you have any problems with a doorstep caller please call us immediately on 08454 04 05 06 or Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999

Trading Standards will help by:

Offering advice to the householder or anyone acting on their behalf

Providing additional support for vulnerable householders including where possible visiting their home to support them and intervening when the trader is there or is expected to return

How can I avoid the cowboys?

Use a 'Buy With Confidence' trader listed on the Trading Standards approved trader list (Call 01243 642124 or visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/tradingstandards)

Contact FIRST CHECK POINT ON 01903 771023 or visit www.firstcheckpoint.com

Seek recommendations from friends, neighbours and family members and obtain more than one quotation before deciding who to employ

Scammers that don't cold call at your door can be even more devious!

Foreign Lotteries, Prize Draws, Clairvoyant, Advance fee, Inheritance, - Through the post, by phone and e mail - the scams are everywhere and the scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their ploys to fool you. One West Sussex consumer lost £115,000 to Spanish lottery conmen.

If it looks to good to be true - it is!

NEVER pay money/call a premium line/ buy anything/give your bank details on the promise that you have won

The prize will invariably be worth less than you have paid

Call on 08454 04 05 06 for advice BEFORE you part with any cash!

(if anyone says shhh - its a secret, don't tell anyone that's a classic tactic of scammers to stop you talking to a friend or relative who might be aware of the scam)

Did you know?

Free advice about all consumer problems is available from Trading Standards at:

Tarmacing

8/08/07

A West Sussex resident faces an £8,000 bill after falling for a con trick . The man was approached by a gang of tarmac-layers saying they were working for the council and had some left over offering to lay it for free.

The resident, who isn't being identified, agreed to allow the men to roll it out, but asked them to fill some potholes. He then signed an open-ended contract agreeing to pay two pounds per square foot. The gang set to work and demanded £8,000 when the job was completed. This has not been paid.

The case is now in the hands of Trading Standards Officers, who have issued an urgent warning to West Sussex households about the gang. They claim to be working for Sussex County Council and are ripping off victims for thousands of pounds.

Intelligence shows that the gang are currently operating mainly along the Brighton to Chichester corridor, although the recent incident occurred in Mid Sussex. They cold-call victims and offer to carry out tarmacing work for reasonable rates. Once the work is started , the rates increase by up to 10 times, and consumers have been intimidated when they refuse to pay.

If anyone offers to carry out such work at your home, you can be sure they are not from West Sussex County Council or its contractors May Gurney Ltd or Amey plc.

If this gang turns up on your doorstep then please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

Scam e-mails

25/07/07

Please note that we have received reports of "scam e-mails" being sent to customers of Lloyds TSB. Please use the link below to take you to Lloyds TSB site and the latest information on scam e-mails.

This should be read by all people who use a bank/on-line banking etc.

http://www.lloydstsb.com/security.asp?link=side_navigation

Llyods Bank latest on e-mail scam

Fraud alert - Email 'Phishing'scam

Some of our customers have received fraudulent emails asking them to confirm information such as Internet banking or telephone banking User IDs, Passwords and Memorable Information . These are not genuine emails.

If you receive such an email, please do not click on any link or provide any Internet banking or telephone banking log on details. While we may send you emails from time to time , we will never send emails asking for your Internet banking information. For a quick way to tell if an email is genuine, check for your name at the top of the email. We know who you are so we always greet you personally, but fraudsters are unlikely to know your name.

The aim of many email scams is to lead you to websites that may look like the lloydstsb.com site but are in fact spoof sites. If you suspect you' ve received a fraudulent email, please forward it to us for investigation at emailscams@lloydstsb.co.uk} and then delete it from your inbox. This information will be used to help reduce online fraud.

Identity Theft

20/07/07

Please note that callers claiming to be from a catalogue company selling bed linen etc, are operating in the Crawley area.

If you receive a visit by these people , DO NOT DEAL AT THE DOOR and DO NOT GIVE YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS. If you are made aware of someone having received a visit from these people please ask them to call Trading Standards as soon as possible at Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

Cold Calling Incidents

19/07/07

Trading Standards cannot express strongly enough that our advice is always DO NOT DEAL AT THE DOOR.

You do not know who you are dealing with.

If you have not asked for and checked any ID given to you - then you will have no one to complain to if the goods are of unsatisfactory quality, go wrong, or you later find out that you have paid more for the goods than they are worth.

Never allow a doorstep trader to drive you to the bank so that you can get money to pay them.

Vinyl Flooring - Horsham Area

A resident in the Orchard Road area of Horsham has been approached by men alleging that they had been working in the Brighton Road area, and had some left over vinyl and other floor coverings and asked if he would like to buy some.

The resident agreed to buy some vinyl flooring and the men said that they would supply and fit the vinyl for £200. The men drove the resident to the bank, upon drawing the money out he handed the cash to the men. The men returned the resident back to his home and delivered the vinyl flooring - they did not fit the flooring.

If you are in any doubt about someone calling to your door KEEP THEM AND OUT and call the Police on 0845 6070999 or contact Trading Standards at Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 .

If you need goods or services in or around your home always ask for recommendations from friends and family. Trading Standards operate an approved trader scheme called Buy With Confidence. For more information please call 08454 040506.

Fire Brigade's Concerns

19/07/07

The Fire Brigade Service are concerned about reports that there is a man/men calling at residents homes particularly in the Mid Sussex area offering safety advice and selling safety products such as fire extinguishers and security boxes.

The advice they offer is that a small fire can be treated with the extinguisher they are selling and that the resident will then be able to leave their home and contact the Fire Brigade - this is dangerous advice .

The men are described as wearing black trousers and white shirts with lapels on the collar, possibly with a badge reading "Regional Fire Services". They appear to be giving the impression that they are from the Fire Brigade Services - please be aware that they are not.

Our advice as always is: DO NOT DEAL AT THE DOOR - In matters of health, safety and /or security you should always seek advice from a professional body.

Remember:

- Are you expecting anybody? Do they have an appointment?

Secure your door with a door CHAIN before opening the door

Ask for and CHECK any ID that the caller gives you. Do not use the telephone number given on the ID but use a telephone number from the telephone book.

If you are in any doubt about a caller to your door - KEEP THEM OUT - and call the Police on 0845 60 70 999 or Trading Standards at Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

Jewellery being sold from a car.

18/07/07

We have been receiving reports from the Police of a female trying to sell jewellery from her car, this has occurred in the Crawley area

.The car is a Blue Vauxhall Vectra. The seller is described as female, white, wearing a denim skirt and hooded sweat top with a handbag over her shoulder.

Please do not buy from sellers who approach you in the street or in a car park etc.

You do not know who you are dealing with. You will have no one to complain to if the product is not of a satisfactory quality, or if something goes wrong. You will most likely pay a lot more than you would in a shop for the same quality of product.

If you are approached or are aware of any such occurrences please report these to the Police on 0845 60 70 999, or call Trading Standards at Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

26th September 2007

We are receiving reports of "tree cutters" in the Horsham area.  

Two males are cold calling at residents homes and asking if they want their trees cut.  Both men were wearing green tops.  One is described as in his 40's.  The other is described as being in his 50's.  No vehicle vehicle description at this point.

Please DO NOT deal at the door.  Contact 01243 642124 or the police on 0845 60 70 999 if you see these men in your area.  

Remember if you require work done in or around your home - seek recommendations from a friend, neighbour or family.  Alternatively contact 01243 642124 - Trading Standards operate a Buy with Confidence Scheme, where you can get details of approved traders for all areas of work.  

5 SEPTEMBER 2007

We have received reports of persons cold calling to residents homes giving away" raffle tickets to win a car or £6000.

One resident who accepted one of these tickets was told the next day that although they had not won the top prize - they had won a free carpet shampoo. When the male arrived to shampoo the residents carpet he spent over three hours in the house trying to sell the resident a vacuum cleaner at the cost of£2000. The male claimed that he had already sold one to a neighbour in the surrounding area.

Our advice as always is: Even if someone is GIVING SOMETHING AWAY DO NOT DEAL AT THE DOOR

All residents have the right to SAY NO to someone who knocks on their door.

31 August 2007

We have been receiving various reports from around West Sussex of the following incidences:

A male has been approaching residents on several occasions trying to sell generators and pressure washers.  Male is described as late 50's, with what is believed to be an Irish accent, driving a white van.

In another incident a group of men (about 4) have been calling at residents homes looking for people who want to recycle their metal doors.

As always, we advise - DO NOT DEAL AT THE DOOR.  If you have something to sell - seek advice from an expert or ask friends and family where you are most likely to be able to sell your items.

If someone wants to sell you something - ALWAYS ASK FOR and CHECK ID.  Do not use the telephone number that they supply you with but check in the TELEPHONE DIRECTORY.

Bogus Telephone Calls

28/8/07

Residents in West Sussex have reported that they have received telephone calls from someone claiming to be from a local radio station.

They are being told, for example, that if they can give the names of four spice girls they could win £3,000. One resident could only remember three and was told that they had won £3500 - the caller then went on to ask for the residents telephone number, address and bank details - including her PIN number.

A telephone call to the local radio station revealed this to be a bogus competition .

Our advice to you is if you receive such a call - as soon as someone asks you for your bank details - PUT THE PHONE DOWN. Never disclose your personal details to anyone - especially if they ask for bank details .

Please report such calls to:

Trading Standards - 08454 040506 OR Police on 0845 60 70 999

Cold Calling -Double Glazing

29/8/07

In the Crawley area we have received reports of two males cold calling at residents home claiming to be from a double glazing company. The men are described as unprofessional looking, wearing bomber jackets and trainers. They are thought to have an Irish accent. They have no ID and the leaflet they carry with them looks photocopied. They are offering fascias and soffits also.

Our advice as always is:

STOP - Are you expecting anybody? Do they have an appointment?

Secure your door with a door CHAIN before opening the door

Ask for and CHECK any ID that the caller gives you. Do not use the telephone number given on the ID but use a telephone number from the telephone book.

ASK YOURSELF - do you need any work done in or around your home? If so, seek recommendations from friends and family. DO NOT DEAL AT THE DOOR

Trading Standards offer an approved trader scheme "Buy with Confidence ". For more details and a list of traders please call 08454 040506.

If you are in any doubt about a caller to your door then please call Trading Standards Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or the Police on 0845 60 70 999.

There have been reports recently of consumers being approached in Supermarket car parks and being offered leather jackets for sale. The seller claims he needs to sell the jackets to pay for his hire car before his return to Italy.

Trading Standards advice is to think before you buy as prices and claims made by these salesmen could be fictitious and misleading. Please report any other instances of this to Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.