Published on:
14
May 2012
Stirling & Clackmannanshire Council's Trading Standards Service, together with other agencies, remain very concerned that local residents are being targeted by scammers and are committed to preventing these crimes.
As part of a national campaign, we are raising awareness of the different types of scams as they come in many different forms and guises.
Mass marketing scams include fake lotteries, prize draws, bogus psychic predictions and miracle health or beauty products. These usually come in the form of unsolicited letters, emails or telephone calls. In the worst cases, victims, typically the elderly or vulnerable can become chronically involved, constantly sending off money for false fees or charges. In some cases victims will be asked by the criminals to transfer money abroad to someone they don't know.
In the run up to large events such as pop/rock concerts and festivals, there are many opportunities for scammers to target consumers, setting up fake ticket websites that claim to have tickets to events that are generally sold out. Inevitably the tickets are never delivered and the people behind the website cannot be traced.
Many local consumers have received telephone calls from companies advising that they are due a refund of Payment Protection payments that they may have paid if they had a loan or credit card in the last few years. The figures quoted are very attractive, often thousands of pounds, and the consumers are either asked to pay an upfront fee for the service or more worryingly, told that a cheque would be delivered to their home. In order to receive the cheque they are asked to purchase a UKASH voucher, typically for £200, as an administration fee. They are told that someone will call to collect the voucher and give them the refund cheque, however prior to collection they are telephoned and asked for the voucher details. No cheque is ever received and the scammer using the details provided over the phone cashes the voucher.
Trading Standards would advise all consumers not to divulge personal information over the telephone and to remember the following tips:
The Trading Standards Team can be contacted on 0845 277 7000 or by email at tradingstandards@stirling.gov.uk