www.hertsdirect.org hertfordshire trading standards scams susie helliwell trading standards officer
TRANSCRIPT
www.hertsdirect.org
Hertfordshire Trading Standards
Scams
Susie Helliwell
Trading Standards Officer
www.hertsdirect.org
ScamsScheming Crafty Aggressive Malicious
A scam is designed to get you to part with your money
www.hertsdirect.org
How?
They succeed by catching you unawares by:
• Telephone
• Post
• Or in person
www.hertsdirect.org
The four Ps
• Pleasant,
• Professional,
• Persistent,
• Persuasive.
Letters and leaflets will look genuine and professional, people will be pleasant.
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Common themes
• Money up front
• Bank or personal details
• Premium rate numbers (start with 090)
• Little contact information; PO Box
• May ask you not to tell anyone about the deal
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Common scams
• Letters predicting the future
• Pyramid selling and gifting schemes
• Lotteries, sweepstakes and competitions
• Foreign money offers
• Work from home opportunities
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Common scams
• Online dating
• Golden investment opportunities
• Miracle health cures / Beauty treatments
• Presentations and bogus holiday clubs
• Phishing for your identity
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Over priced catalogues• Come catalogues charge huge prices for goods
such as biscuits or health products
• They offer prize draws to entice people to buy in the hope of winning
• Often the prize is just money off the next expensive order and there is no big prize waiting
• This can lead to a cycle of buying goods that many victims find hard to break
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Charities
• Many consumers are target by minor / lesser known charities
• Some people feel obliged to donate even though they are giving already
• One consumer in Hertfordshire had been signed up to donate over £14,000 per year to various different causes
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Charities
• Many charities use marketing companies to increase donations, these companies may sometimes use hard selling techniques to increase funds
• Only contribute to charities which you know about
• You can say no
• Make sure you can afford to live first
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Legislation
Consumer Protection
from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008
Fraud Act 2006
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What to do…
STOP, THINK AND BE SCEPTICAL
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Share
If you discover a scam tell your friends and family
• If you want to report a scam, want advice or think that you may have been a victim of a scam contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06
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Current cases
• Lady in her late 70s, living with her husband and showing signs of dementia. Receives several letters a day. She is convinced that she is working for the company.
• Lady in her early 80s, living alone and was too ashamed to tell her family. Believed that she had won a prize.
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Current cases
• A gentleman in Stevenage had replied to so many scams that he had to be provided with a food voucher from the food bank
• Another gentleman in Stevenage had been befriended by scammers over the internet and had been sending amounts of money to Ghana and the Philippines to people he believes are “friends in need”
www.hertsdirect.org
Protect each other
What to look out for:
• Piles of letters – to receive 20 lottery type scams a week is quite common
• Reluctance to admit to replying to them, often embarrassed
• May think that they are working for the company
• Regular payments of £20 / £30 to £1000’s
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Protect yourself
Mailings
• To reduce unwanted mail contact the Mailing Preference Service call 0845 703 4599.
• If in doubt, throw it away.
www.hertsdirect.org
Telephone calls
• To reduce unwanted sales calls contact the Telephone Preference Service 0845 070 0707
• Number block service
• Call barring
• If in doubt, hang up
www.hertsdirect.org
Use anti-virus software and a firewall. Keep them up to date.
Don’t email personal or financial information
Be cautious opening any attachment or downloading files from emails
If in doubt, don’t reply
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Remember
IF IT LOOKS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS!
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Any Questions?
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thank you