scammers and examples of their practices – counterfeit goods … · 2018. 3. 14. · advice and...
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PRESENTATIONTOLAMBETHAGEUK–21STFEBRUARY2018
ChrisArmstrongandIanHillierfromtheCharteredTradingStandardsInstituteandLambethTradingStandards
Scammersandexamplesoftheirpractices–CounterfeitgoodsandmoreSCAMSAsHomeSafetyAmbassadorsweneedtopassonmessagestoresidentsaboutthemanyinstanceswhereroguetradersseektotakeadvantageofanyonewhoisunawareorvulnerable.
• Facetofaceinthestreet–ResearchersandsomeCharityworkersoftenmakeanapproachwhilstyouareoutinshoppingareas.Myadvicewouldbetorefusetoenterintoconversations–unlessyouwishtoandfeelsafeandideallyhavesomeoneelsewithyou.Nevergiveyourhomecontactdetailsorbankinginformation.Ifyouwishtodonatetoacharitytherearemoresecurewaystodothis
• Onyourdoorstep–beverywaryofalluninvitedcallers–neveropenyourdoorwithoutaskingthecallertoidentifythemselvesfirstoronlyasfarasadoorchainwillallow.EveniftheyhaveanIDandarewearingauniformsuchasGasBoard,WaterBoard,LocalCouncil,etc–disbelieveeveryonetillproven–beforeyoulettheminlookupthephonenumberofthecompanyorutilityandphoneitbeforeyouletthemin.Don’tjustphoneanumberontheirIDasthatwillprobablyfakeaswell.
o Thereareanumberoforganisationsthatgivelistsofapprovedtradersthatclientscancontacttoensuretheygetagooddealandreliableservice.Theseinclude
o AgeUKrecommendedhandymanserviceso TrustedTraderSchemethroughWhich?o RatedPeople.como Checkatrade.como Otherlocalschemesviayourlocaltradingstandardswebsiteswww.tradinstandards.uk
Oneofthebestwaystofindagoodhandypersonisstilltheoldestandbest-thatisbypersonalrecommendationfromafriendorneighbour
• Getadoorchain-displayastickertellingcallersyouneverbuygoodsfromacoldcallersorwillneveragreetohaveworkdoneonyourpropertyandyouwillcallthePoliceiftheypersist.Pre-printednoticesareavailablefromLocalCouncilsandsomeCharitableorganisationsorcanbefoundontheinternet.HereisalinktothemoneysavingexpertwebsitetoprintoffafreeA4sign
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/no-more-junk#freesign
• ColdCallingControlZones–talktoyourlocalauthorityandfindoutaboutcreatingsuchareasinyourlocality.Individualstreetsorblocksofflatsetccanhavesignageerectedtowarnpossiblecoldcallerstheyarenotwelcome.TherearesomeinLambethseethislink–clickonsection2toseewheretheyareandhowtosetothersuphttps://www.lambeth.gov.uk/business-services-rates-and-licensing/food-safety/trading-standards-guide
• Tellresidentsnottobeworriedaboutphoning101toreportallincidentsoreven999iftheyfeelthreatened.Adviseresidentstotellrelativesandneighboursaboutanysuchvisits.
• Distractionburglary–warnresidentsaboutunwantedcallers–explainthemethodofoperationofthesepeopleofthesepeople–iftwopeoplecoldcall,neverletthembothinatonceasoneislikelytokeepyouchattingwhilsttheotherwillwanderroundyourhomestealinganythingvaluable
• ScamMailo WhilstvisitinglookoutforpilesofletterssayingtheresidenthaswonaprizeORoffering
largesumsofmoneytousetheirbankaccountformoneytransfersORarelativeisintroubleabroad.
o Theseshouldbeignoredanddisposedofintherecyclebinasitisunlikelythatanyofferwillbegenuine
Iftheletterhasthesendersaddresson(usuallyonthebackoftheenvelope)Suggesttheyputthemailbackinthepostboxunstampedandmarked–UNSOLICITEDMAILRETURNTOSENDERThesenderwillthenhavetopaythereturnpostagewhichmaypromptthemtoremovecontactdetailsfromtheirmailinglists.IfyouwanttoreportapotentialpostalscamyoucancontactRoyalMailatFreepostScamMail,Orbyphoneon03456113413oremail:scam.mail@royalmail.comPleasealsoreportinstancestoyourlocalTradingStandardsviatheCitizensAdviceServicehotline03454040506MailPreferenceServiceIfyouarehavingaproblemwiththeoverallamountofjunkmailthat'saddressedtoyou,itmighthelptoregisteryournameandaddressforfreewiththeMailingPreferenceService(MPS)on-lineortryphoning0207 291 3310Thisisafreeservicesetupbythedirectmarketingindustrytohelppeoplewhodon'twanttoreceivejunkmail.ItsgoodpracticefororganisationstochecktheMPSlistbeforesendingmarketingmaterialoutbutitisnotalegalrequirementthattheydoso.
Door-to-dooroptout
Youcanreducetheamountof'unaddressed’mailyoureceivebyregisteringwiththeRoyalMail'sdoor-to-dooropt-outservice.However,thiswillnotstopmailaddressedto'theoccupier'.Tooptoutofdoor-to-doormail,writetotheaddressbelowrequestingyournameandaddressbeaddedtothedoor-to-dooroptoutscheme.FreepostRRBT-2BXB-TTTS,RoyalMailDoortoDoorOptOuts,KingsmeadHouse,OxpensRoad,Oxford,OX11RX
NuisancephonecallsonlandlinesIfaresidenthasaproblemthereareappliancesthatcanfilteranddismissunwantedcallsthesearen’tfreebutcanpreventagreatdealofworryforanyonereceivinglotsofcallslookonlineoraskyourlocalAgeUKcontactstogiveinformation.Someofthesehaveprovedveryeffectiveinlimitingtheworstcasesofnuisancecalls
o alsotryBTcallbarringo registerwithTelephonePreferenceServiceTPSbyphoneon0345 070 0707orbythe
internetwww.tpsonline.org.uk NuisancecallandTextmessagesonmobiles-ifresidentsarehavingsuchcontacts,numbersonmobilescanbeblockedonthephoneitselfNuisanceEmail–askiftheyaretroubledbybegginglettersetcmostcomputershaveajunkmailoptionSocialmedia–Facebook,Twitter,etc–reportanyincidentstothecontrollingbody
NationalTradingStandards–ScamsTeam
ThenationalteamareaskinghundredspeopletoregisterasSCAMbassadors.Pleasefollowthelinkandregisteryourname:-
https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/article.php?xArt=39
TheNationalTradingStandardswebsitehaslotsofusefulinformationandisat:-http://www.nationaltradingstandards.uk/
ThinkJessicaCampaign
OneofthehardesthittingcasesofanelderlywomanbeinghoundeduntilshediedistoldonthisChariteswebsite.Itcontainsamassiveamountofinformationandadviceforpeoplecaughtinthewebaswellastheircarers,friendsandfamilieshttp://www.thinkjessica.com/
PRODUCTSAFETY-PRODUCTRECALLSForthelatestproductrecallinformationpleasefollowthislinktotheTradingStandardsInstitutewebsite:www.tradingstandards.gov.uk
Thewebsitelistsahugerangeofrecalledgoodsincludingfood,householdappliances,clothingandtoys.ThereisalsoalinktotheEuropeanProductrecallsitecalledRAPEXthislistsmanymoreitems.ThereisalsoalinktotheDriverandVehicleStandardsAgencywhereanyonecansearchforrecallsofmotorvehiclesbutbewarnedthereare100’softhese.
ElectricalproductsrecallscanbeseenontheElectricalSafetyFirstwebsitehttps://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/
TheGovernmenthaverecentlyagreedtoputupto£12millionintosettingupthenewOfficeofProductSafetyandStandards–mighthavebeenbettergivingittoTradingStandardstomakeupforallthecutstheyhavesufferedalready!!
COUNTERFEITGOODSThereisanincreasingvolumeoflook-a-likegoodsfloodingourmarketplace,notjustinshopsandmarketstallsbutalsoonline.Thesearemainlyimportsandaresosimilarinlookstotherealthingthat
peopleareeasilyfooled.These‘hooky’goodsareoftenreferredtoinalightheartedwayusingreferencesto‘DelBoy’etc.Don’ttouchthemwithabargepole!AdvisepeopletoshopatrecognisedandestablishedHighStreetshopsandmarketstallsandmakesuretheyusetheofficialsitesontheinternet.Itisquiteeasytolookatsitesthatusethenameofagenuinetraderbutareoftenatotallyfictitioussiteoranagentwhomaychargeyouforconnectingwiththerealsite.Thelatterisquitecommonforthingslikeon-linetaxreturnsorotherGovernmentsiteswhoactuallyprovidefreeservices.Theoldsayingthatifit‘lookstoogoodtobetrue-itis’isstillthebestguidetorememberwhenlookingatbargains.AnydodgygoodsorpracticesshouldbereportedtotradingStandardsthroughtheCitizensAdvicecontactline03454040506
SellingCounterfeitgoodsisfraud
Counterfeitgoodsregularlyincludeamassiverangeofgoods.Designerclothes,bags,accessoriesandperfumesaswellaspirateDVDs,CDs,computergamesaswellasMedicinesandcarparts.Itseemsthatnothingescapesthefakers.
Manycounterfeitgoodsaresoldatcarbootsales,inpubsbyitineranttraders,marketsorfairs.Thismakesitdifficulttotracethefraudsteronceyou’veboughtfromthem.
Fakegoodsarealsosoldonline,althoughauctionsitessuchaseBay.Thesecompaniesaredoingtheirbesttoclampdownoncounterfeitingandpiracy.
Areyouavictimofcounterfeitgoodsfraud?
You’veboughtanitemanddiscoveredthatitisnotoriginalormadebythebranditclaimstobemadeby.Thequalitymightwellbeinferior,whichmightmaketheproductunusableorunsafe.
Whatshouldyoudoifyou’vebeenavictimofcounterfeitgoodsfraud?
Ifyouthinkyouhavebeensoldcounterfeitgoods,orifyoususpectsomebodyissellingfakegoods,contactCitizensAdviceandTradingStandardson03454040506foradvice.
Yourstatutoryrightsapplyifthegoodsyoubuyaren’tsatisfactoryqualityoraredifferentfromtheseller’sdescription.So,ifyoubuygoodsthatarenotasdescribed,youshouldbeentitledtoarefundoranexchangefortherealgoods.Theprobleminsomecasesiswillyoubeabletofindtheseller??
Whyshouldyouavoidcounterfeitgoods?
• You’rehelpingthetradertobreakthelawandmanyfraudstersusetheproceedsfromsellingcounterfeitgoodstofunddrugdealingorothertypesoforganisedcrime.
• Buyingfakegoodscontributestojoblossesbecausegenuinemanufacturersareunabletomatchpriceschargedbyroguetraders.You’realsodeprivingthegenuinemanufacturersofanyprofit.
• Somecounterfeitgoodsmaybesubstandard,possiblydangerousandmayevencontainhazardoussubstances.
Protectyourselfagainstcounterfeitgoodsfraud
• Ifsomethingseemstoogoodtobetrue,egaRolexwatchbeingsoldfor£10,itprobablyis.Don’tbefooledintothinkingyou’regettingagreatdeal.
• Alwaysexaminethequalityofanygoodsyou’rethinkingofbuyingandcheckthelabelstoseeiftheyaregenuine.It’softenveryeasytospotafakeastheirlabelsmayhavespellingmistakesorotherdistinguishingmarks.
• Alwaysaskthetraderyou’rebuyingfromwhethertheyofferanafter-salesservice,oraguarantee.Mostroguetraderswon’t.
• Alwaysgetaproperreceiptwithdetailsofcontactinformationfromtheseller
Iffraudhasbeencommitted,reportittoTradingStandards03454040506
Twoespeciallydangerousareasofcounterfeitsare:-CounterfeitCigarettesTobaccoandBoozeIllegaltobaccocanbefakeproducts,smuggledgenuineproducts,orbrandsspecificallymadefortheillegaltobaccomarket.
Thetradeinillicittobaccoandalcoholhasseriousconsequencesforhealth,crimeandcommunitycohesion.
Theyaresoldcheaperthanlegitimateproductsbutthispracticeisnotavictimlesscrime.
ThetradeinillicittobaccoandalcoholisapriorityforTradingStandardsas:
• Illicittobaccocausesfourtimesasmanydeathsasillicitdrugsbecauseitdiscouragessmokersfromquittingandencouragesthemtosmokemore
• Counterfeitalcoholcanbedangerousassomecounterfeitproducts-suchasvodkas-aremadefromindustrialalcoholandmethanolwithoutanycontroloverwhatisgoingintothem
• Lowerpricingandlackofresponsibilitybysellersmakesiteasierforchildrentosmokeanddrinkalcohol
• Itislinkedtolowlevelandlargescaleorganisedcrime,nationallyandinternationally• Itgoeshandinhandwithdrugsandalcohol,childexploitation,moneylaunderingandeven
terrorism• Ittargetspooranddisadvantagedcommunities• bringsorganisedcrimeintocommunities• encourageschildrentostartsmoking• preventsadultsmokersfromgivingup.
Suppliersofillegaltobaccoandalcoholareoftenlinkedtodrugdealing,peopletraffickingandeventerrorism.Don’tletillegaltobaccoorboozeintoyourcommunity.
Ifyouknowanyonesellingcounterfeitversionsoftheseproductsyouwillprobablyalsoknowthepeoplewhobuythemaswell.
Typesofproductsonsale
• Illicit(dutyfree)–foreignproductsbroughtintotheUKinillegalquantitiesandresoldintheUK• Counterfeit–fakepackagingoftenmadetolooklikepremiumbrands.Counterfeitproducts
containcheap/lowqualitytobaccoorindustrialalcoholoftencontainingharmfulsubstancesandcontaminants
TradingstandardsprioritisesitsworktotacklethetraderinillicittobaccoandalcoholandworkregularlywithHMRevenueandCustoms,Policeandotherpartnerstotacklethistrade.
IfyouwanttoreportthesaleofcounterfeitorillicittobaccoorboozepleasecontactCitizensAdviceConsumerServiceon03454040506.Theywilltakeyourreportandalerttradingstandards.
HowcanAmbassadorshelptoprotectclients?
• Allhomevisitorsneedtobeanextrapairofeyesandearsforsignsofconcernbytalkingtoclients
• Family,friendsandneighbourscanoftenbeingenlistedtobeawareaswell• Moreadvicehandoutstobedistributedwhereavailable
Wherecanwealllookforhelp?Mostisnowonlinesonotalwaysdirectlyavailabletoolderpeople
• LocalAgeUKgroups• CTSIwebsite• LocalTradingStandardsServicese.g.Lambeth• CitizensAdviceServices• Police• Fireservices
Version03.03.18
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