Tuesday 22 December 2015

@WAR - Warwickshire Trading Standards email alerts


Warwickshire Trading Standards email alerts.

Please feel free to cascade this information to whomever you feel appropriate (including using the information in your newsletters/websites etc.).

  • 17/12/2015 New Year! New Rights!
  • 16/12/2015 iphone 6 for £1 scam
  • 16/12/2015 Debt scam
  • 14/12/2015 Christmas counterfeits warning

17/12/2015 New Year! New Rights!

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 17, 2015 01:35 pm
With the recent introduction of the new Consumer Rights Act, Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards has produced a top tips guide for Christmas and New Year bargain hunters.

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share on Twitter Like 17/12/2015 New Year! New Rights! on Facebook

16/12/2015 iphone 6 for £1 scam

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 16, 2015 02:18 pm
A Warwickshire resident reported being scammed on social media after seeing in advert for a chance to get a new iphone 6 for £1. The consumer paid her £1 with a credit card and then had £75 taken from her account! No iphone was sent.
Fraudsters use social media to disseminate their scams and contact consumers. 'Free' offers may not be all they seem. 'If an offer seems too good to be true it usually is!' Beware hidden small print. NEVER reveal your debit or credit card details to anyone you don't know or trust.

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share on Twitter Like 16/12/2015 iphone 6 for £1 scam on Facebook

16/12/2015 Debt scam

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 16, 2015 02:10 pm
A local resident reported receiving a bogus phone call from someone falsely claiming to represent the Citizens Advice Bureau, an organisation that  advises consumers on debt issues. The caller claimed that the resident had a debt (which was untrue) and was phoning to set up a direct debit to pay it off!
NEVER provide any personal or financial information to cold callers.

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share on Twitter Like 16/12/2015 Debt scam on Facebook

14/12/2015 Christmas counterfeits warning

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 14, 2015 09:41 am
In a rush to buy those last minute gifts? Warwickshire Trading Standards warn consumers not to be caught out by Christmas counterfeits.

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share on Twitter Like 14/12/2015 Christmas counterfeits warning on Facebook



 

Recent Articles:

11/12/2015 Publication scams
11/12/2015 Bogus Warwickshire County Council callers
11/12/2015 Young cyber-criminal campaign
10/12/2015 ‘Free’ mattresses door to door Whitnash and Leamington Spa
10/12/2015 Virgin Media ‘blocked’ and other bogus emails

@WAR - Trading Standards Update


  • 03/12/2015 The data cycle – how your information shared and sold!
  • 03/12/2015 Trading Standards business news Winter 2015
  • 03/12/2015 Mandate fraud warning to Warwickshire businesses
  • 03/12/2015 Hoverboard safety warning
  • 03/12/2015 Farmers warned of targeted fraud attacks
  • 30/11/2015 Your Christmas shopping rights
  • 30/11/2015 Why do I get unwanted phone calls? This video shows you why
  • 30/11/2015 Dangerous dolls seized

03/12/2015 The data cycle – how your information shared and sold!

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 03, 2015 12:18 pm
The data cycle -- showing how one person's personal data can be used, passed on and re-used in ways that people may not expect. Gives advice about what to do to reduce nuisance calls.

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 03/12/2015 The data cycle – how your information shared and sold! on Facebook

03/12/2015 Trading Standards business news Winter 2015

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 03, 2015 12:13 pm
Trading Standards business news Winter 2015 In this issue: Festive food safety; Top tips for exporters and illicit alcohol

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 03/12/2015 Trading Standards business news Winter 2015 on Facebook

03/12/2015 Mandate fraud warning to Warwickshire businesses

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 03, 2015 11:21 am
Warwickshire businesses are warned to beware of mandate fraud. Mandate Fraud is also known as Creditor Fraud, Payment Diversion Fraud and Supplier Account Takeover Fraud.
This fraud involves the changing of account details for supplier or customer accounts in order to gain control of an account and benefit from unauthorised payments. This could include changing of bank details in a direct debit, manipulation of credit card activity, or changing of an employee’s bank account details for their salary, particularly when a bonus is due.
Changing bank accounts is an unusual occurrence and therefore any request to update records should be treated with suspicion. Changes should be authorised at a senior level.
Fraudsters rely on the Payee (Company) name not being checked by the Banks. In most cases, only the Sort Code and Account Number are checked by the receiving bank.
Additionally, company details, including signatures on published accounts, are copied from the internet.
All companies and organisations are urged to ensure that they have robust authorisation and monitoring procedures in place for the creation and changing of bank details and monitoring of payments.
This also applies when providing account details in order to set up new payments or amend them.

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 03/12/2015 Mandate fraud warning to Warwickshire businesses on Facebook

03/12/2015 Hoverboard safety warning

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 03, 2015 09:52 am
More than 17,000 self-balancing scooters – or ‘hoverboards’– have been examined at national entry points since 15 October due to safety concerns. Of these, over 15,000 (or 88%) have been assessed as unsafe and have been detained at the border. Officers at UK ports and borders have seen a huge spike in the number of these items arriving in recent weeks, destined to end up as gifts under the tree this Christmas. More information
Advice to consumers and businesses:
  • Never leave the device charging unattended – especially overnight: a faulty cut-off switch (designed to stop the battery from continuing to charge once fully charged) or a plug without a fuse, as seen in many products detained so far, could lead to the device overheating, exploding or catching fire.
  • Check the device: things to look out for include the shape of the plug – the first unsafe products identified often had a clover-shaped plug. Also check the device for markings or traceable information, such as the name and contact details of the manufacturer and / or importer.
  • If buying online, look closely at the website before you hit the ‘buy’ button:
  • Try searching for reviews of the product or the seller – do these seem genuine?
  • Are there lots of spelling or grammar mistakes on the site? This can be a clue that a business is not professionally run.
  • See if you can find out where the company’s head office is based – and whether that fits with how the website presents itself.
  • Do they have a landline number you can call if there are any problems? Bear in mind that if the company is based abroad, it can be more difficult to get a complaint dealt with or return a faulty product.
  • Read the small print – notice if anything seems odd, repetitive or in incorrect English.
  • Is there an ‘s’ at the end of the ‘http’ part of the web address, or is there a padlock symbol in the task bar? This means the website is using an encrypted system that keeps your details more secure.
  • Don’t be dazzled by a bargain: Are the prices incredibly low? If they look too good to be true, they probably are – particularly if some of your other checks have put doubts in your mind.
  • Be aware that criminals exploit high demand: When items like self-balancing scooters start to sell out at well-known retailers, the void is quickly filled by crooks churning out poor quality imitations that can put people in danger. Don’t ‘panic buy’ from the first website you find – do your usual common-sense checks.
  • Report it: National Trading Standards needs your help to clamp down on unsafe products from abroad. If you believe that any online or face-to-face seller is selling potentially dangerous goods, or something you’ve bought has made you suspicious, report it to Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06.
  • Buying online for onward sale online? If you do this you are assuming the legal responsibilities of a business to ensure that what you’re selling complies with product safety and intellectual property legislation. More information for importers

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 03/12/2015 Hoverboard safety warning on Facebook

03/12/2015 Farmers warned of targeted fraud attacks

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 03, 2015 09:42 am
Farmers are being warned to be extremely wary of any suspicious calls, texts or emails as fraudsters specifically target the agricultural sector when EU grant payments begin to arrive in bank accounts month.

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 03/12/2015 Farmers warned of targeted fraud attacks on Facebook

30/11/2015 Your Christmas shopping rights

By Simon Cripwell on Nov 30, 2015 01:25 pm
A useful guide to your Christmas shopping rights launched by Which?

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 30/11/2015 Your Christmas shopping rights on Facebook

30/11/2015 Why do I get unwanted phone calls? This video shows you why

By Simon Cripwell on Nov 30, 2015 12:57 pm
The data cycle showing how one person's personal data can be used, passed on and re-used in ways that people may not expect. The video also gives advice about what to do to reduce nuisance calls.

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 30/11/2015 Why do I get unwanted phone calls? This video shows you why on Facebook

30/11/2015 Dangerous dolls seized

By Simon Cripwell on Nov 30, 2015 12:21 pm
Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service was able to seize over 60 fake and dangerous Maleficent dolls before they reached the shop shelves in time for Christmas.





Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 30/11/2015 Dangerous dolls seized on Facebook



 

Recent Articles:

27/11/2015 Local traders warned to beware of cold calls from bogus publishers
27/11/2015 Dyson service bogus engineers
27/11/2015 Loan scam warning
26/11/2015 Indesit and Hotpoint issue fire-risk warnings over tumble dryers
26/11/2015 Trading Standards offer help as Black Friday approaches

Monday 21 December 2015

@NAT - Protect your Cards and PINs

This is a Neighbourhood Watch message sent to you by Cheltenham Police 
Between 1st January and 14th November 2015 there have been a total of 53 crimes where a distraction method has been used to carry out a theft or attempted theft offence at a supermarket. 
Since the start of the year the following number of offences have taken place:
·         Cheltenham -15 offences
·         Tewkesbury - 11 offences
·         Gloucester - 8 offences

There have been 12 offences across Gloucestershire in November alone and the number may increase as we approach the busy Christmas shopping period.  

It would seem that offenders are hanging around at supermarket cash point machines or the quick checkout tills trying to obtain the credit or debit card pin numbers used by shoppers. They then attempt to obtain the card itself by a form of distraction either at the supermarket or on the victim’s journey home. The most common distraction method used is to ask directions (often to the hospital) while the victim is putting bags into their car but others such as pointing out a fictitious problem with the victim’s car have been used.

It seems that the most likely people to be targeted for this new type of crime are older female shoppers who are on their own.


Please be aware of anyone following you around the store, car park or hanging around near the tills and cash point machines at supermarkets. If you notice anyone acting in this manner please do not hesitate to bring it to the attention of a member of staff at the store. Also where possible go shopping with someone else and be cautious when using your pin number wherever you shop. If you discover your cards are missing report the loss to your bank and police straight away. If you witness anything suspicious at supermarkets please report it to the police by ringing 101 or email on 101@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk

@NAT - Protect yourself from Bogus Electrical Websites





Fraudsters have set up a high specification website template advertising various electrical goods and domestic appliances. These goods are below market value and do not exist. The fraudsters will request your card details via the website; however the purchaser will then receive an email stating the payment failed and they must pay via bank transfer.

The fraudsters entice the purchaser and reassure them it is a legitimate purchase by using the widely recognised Trusted Shop Trustmark. The fraudsters are using the Trustmark fraudulently and have not been certified by Trusted Shops and therefore the purchaser is not covered by the Trusted Shop money-back guarantee.

Protect yourself:
  • Check the authenticity of the websites before making any purchases. Conduct a ‘whois’ search on the website which will identify when the website has been created, be wary of newly formed domains. You can conduct this search using the following website - https://who.is/.
  • Carry out online research in relation to the website, company name and the business address provided to identify any poor feedback or possible irregularities.
  • Check the Trusted Shops Facebook page where warnings about websites using their Trustmark are published. If you are in doubt about the legitimacy of a Trustmark then you can contact Trusted Shops on 0203 364 5906 or by email service@trustedshops.co.uk. They will confirm whether they have certified that website.
  • Payments made via bank transfer are not protected should you not received the item. Therefore always try to make the payment via PayPal or a credit card where you have some payment cover should you not receive your product.
  • If the item advertised seems too good to be true, then it probably is. 
If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone 0300 123 2040.


Share this message

Sunday 13 December 2015

@WAR - Warwickshire Trading Standards email alerts.


Please feel free to cascade this information to whomever you feel appropriate (including using the information in your newsletters/websites etc.).

  • 11/12/2015 Publication scams
  • 11/12/2015 Bogus Warwickshire County Council callers
  • 11/12/2015 Young cyber-criminal campaign
  • 10/12/2015 ‘Free’ mattresses door to door Whitnash and Leamington Spa
  • 10/12/2015 Virgin Media ‘blocked’ and other bogus emails
  • 08/12/2015 Bogus HMRC email
  • 08/12/2015 Facebook ‘confirm ID’ scam

11/12/2015 Publication scams

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 11, 2015 12:19 pm
Several Warwickshire businesses have recently complained after receiving demands for payment for advertising from people running bogus publications. These 'businesses' attempt to trick local companies in to paying for advertising in 'safety' magazines with little or no circulation, making the publication worthless. When the company refuses to pay, they often threaten them with bailiffs, bankruptcy and other legal action.
Don't be tricked. Never engage these callers in conversation. Always put the phone.

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share on Twitter Like 11/12/2015 Publication scams on Facebook

11/12/2015 Bogus Warwickshire County Council callers

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 11, 2015 12:07 pm
Warwickshire residents are again receiving scam phone calls from people falsely claiming to be calling from Warwickshire County Council and asking the householder about a past traffic accident.
These calls are being made from foreign call centres. The callers are looking for 'leads', people who have  had an accident in the past. The calls are made at random, but if the caller finds someone who has actually had an accident, they will try to sell on their details to a 'no-win no-fee' claims management business.

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share on Twitter Like 11/12/2015 Bogus Warwickshire County Council callers on Facebook

11/12/2015 Young cyber-criminal campaign

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 11, 2015 09:42 am
The National Crime Agency has launched a campaign to discourage young people from becoming involved in cyber crime, after analysis of investigations involving the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit over the last year found the average age of suspects to be 17.

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share on Twitter Like 11/12/2015 Young cyber-criminal campaign on Facebook

10/12/2015 ‘Free’ mattresses door to door Whitnash and Leamington Spa

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 10, 2015 10:48 am
Warwickshire Trading Standards is alerting consumers to 'sellers' of mattresses door to door in the Whitnash and Leamington Spa areas.
The callers are claiming that the mattresses are being given away 'free' because they were used in show homes of new build properties in the area.
However, the callers then ask for £250 for  the building site staff 'Christmas bonus' and offer to drive interested residents to local cash points.
Warwickshire Trading Standards advises consumers not to buy from the door. You can never tell a good trader from a bad one on the doorstep.
Further, mattresses sold in the UK have to meet stringent fire safety tests. Cheap mattresses that do not meet these stringent tests are sometimes imported in to the UK  and sold door to door. Consumers are advised to only buy mattresses and other upholstered furniture from reputable local traders.

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 10/12/2015 ‘Free’ mattresses door to door Whitnash and Leamington Spa on Facebook

10/12/2015 Virgin Media ‘blocked’ and other bogus emails

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 10, 2015 10:32 am
Warwickshire Trading Standards is reminding consumers to beware of bogus emails that falsely purport to come from Virgin Media and other broadband/television/phone providers.
The emails, which are usually sent to 'the customer' or 'the recipient' (as they often don't know your name), may state that your account will be blocked or terminated if you don't click on a link in the email to enter your account details.
Always delete these sorts of emails and never  follow a link in an email, even if you think the email is genuine. If you need to visit your on-line account, always type in the account address yourself in to the web browser.
Links in bogus emails will take you to bogus websites where your user name, password and account information will be stolen!

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share on Twitter Like 10/12/2015 Virgin Media ‘blocked’ and other bogus emails on Facebook

08/12/2015 Bogus HMRC email

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 08, 2015 02:13 pm
Beware of emails sent by fraudsters falsely purporting to come from H.M. Revenue and Customs. The emails claim that the recipient is eligible to receive a tax refund of £348-65. They are asked to complete a form containing their bank details and return it so that the 'refund' can be paid directly in to their account.
NEVER reveal your personal or financial information under these circumstances. Stolen bank information is used to commit fraud and identity theft.

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share on Twitter Like 08/12/2015 Bogus HMRC email on Facebook

08/12/2015 Facebook ‘confirm ID’ scam

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 08, 2015 02:06 pm
Beware of fraudsters requests for Facebook users to 'confirm their ID' by emailing or posting a picture of their driving licence, passport or similar document, copies of which are then used for identity fraud and theft

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share on Twitter Like 08/12/2015 Facebook ‘confirm ID’ scam on Facebook



 

Recent Articles:

03/12/2015 The data cycle – how your information shared and sold!
03/12/2015 Trading Standards business news Winter 2015
03/12/2015 Mandate fraud warning to Warwickshire businesses
03/12/2015 Hoverboard safety warning
03/12/2015 Farmers warned of targeted fraud attacks

@WAR - PCC asks: how much are you prepared to pay to maintain frontline policing?

                                                                                                                                                                 Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Ball wants to hear your views as he considers setting the police budget for 2016/17.  He is asking members of the public if they are willing to contribute around a penny a day extra in order to maintain frontline policing levels.


READ MORE AND GIVE YOUR VIEW

Wednesday 9 December 2015

@WAR - Warwickshire Trading Standards email alerts



Please feel free to cascade this information to whomever you feel appropriate (including using the information in your newsletters/websites etc.).

03/12/2015 The data cycle – how your information shared and sold!

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 03, 2015 12:18 pm
The data cycle -- showing how one person's personal data can be used, passed on and re-used in ways that people may not expect. Gives advice about what to do to reduce nuisance calls.

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 03/12/2015 The data cycle – how your information shared and sold! on Facebook

03/12/2015 Trading Standards business news Winter 2015

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 03, 2015 12:13 pm
Trading Standards business news Winter 2015 In this issue: Festive food safety; Top tips for exporters and illicit alcohol

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 03/12/2015 Trading Standards business news Winter 2015 on Facebook

03/12/2015 Mandate fraud warning to Warwickshire businesses

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 03, 2015 11:21 am
Warwickshire businesses are warned to beware of mandate fraud. Mandate Fraud is also known as Creditor Fraud, Payment Diversion Fraud and Supplier Account Takeover Fraud.
This fraud involves the changing of account details for supplier or customer accounts in order to gain control of an account and benefit from unauthorised payments. This could include changing of bank details in a direct debit, manipulation of credit card activity, or changing of an employee’s bank account details for their salary, particularly when a bonus is due.
Changing bank accounts is an unusual occurrence and therefore any request to update records should be treated with suspicion. Changes should be authorised at a senior level.
Fraudsters rely on the Payee (Company) name not being checked by the Banks. In most cases, only the Sort Code and Account Number are checked by the receiving bank.
Additionally, company details, including signatures on published accounts, are copied from the internet.
All companies and organisations are urged to ensure that they have robust authorisation and monitoring procedures in place for the creation and changing of bank details and monitoring of payments.
This also applies when providing account details in order to set up new payments or amend them.

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 03/12/2015 Mandate fraud warning to Warwickshire businesses on Facebook

03/12/2015 Hoverboard safety warning

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 03, 2015 09:52 am
More than 17,000 self-balancing scooters – or ‘hoverboards’– have been examined at national entry points since 15 October due to safety concerns. Of these, over 15,000 (or 88%) have been assessed as unsafe and have been detained at the border. Officers at UK ports and borders have seen a huge spike in the number of these items arriving in recent weeks, destined to end up as gifts under the tree this Christmas. More information
Advice to consumers and businesses:
  • Never leave the device charging unattended – especially overnight: a faulty cut-off switch (designed to stop the battery from continuing to charge once fully charged) or a plug without a fuse, as seen in many products detained so far, could lead to the device overheating, exploding or catching fire.
  • Check the device: things to look out for include the shape of the plug – the first unsafe products identified often had a clover-shaped plug. Also check the device for markings or traceable information, such as the name and contact details of the manufacturer and / or importer.
  • If buying online, look closely at the website before you hit the ‘buy’ button:
  • Try searching for reviews of the product or the seller – do these seem genuine?
  • Are there lots of spelling or grammar mistakes on the site? This can be a clue that a business is not professionally run.
  • See if you can find out where the company’s head office is based – and whether that fits with how the website presents itself.
  • Do they have a landline number you can call if there are any problems? Bear in mind that if the company is based abroad, it can be more difficult to get a complaint dealt with or return a faulty product.
  • Read the small print – notice if anything seems odd, repetitive or in incorrect English.
  • Is there an ‘s’ at the end of the ‘http’ part of the web address, or is there a padlock symbol in the task bar? This means the website is using an encrypted system that keeps your details more secure.
  • Don’t be dazzled by a bargain: Are the prices incredibly low? If they look too good to be true, they probably are – particularly if some of your other checks have put doubts in your mind.
  • Be aware that criminals exploit high demand: When items like self-balancing scooters start to sell out at well-known retailers, the void is quickly filled by crooks churning out poor quality imitations that can put people in danger. Don’t ‘panic buy’ from the first website you find – do your usual common-sense checks.
  • Report it: National Trading Standards needs your help to clamp down on unsafe products from abroad. If you believe that any online or face-to-face seller is selling potentially dangerous goods, or something you’ve bought has made you suspicious, report it to Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06.
  • Buying online for onward sale online? If you do this you are assuming the legal responsibilities of a business to ensure that what you’re selling complies with product safety and intellectual property legislation. More information for importers

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 03/12/2015 Hoverboard safety warning on Facebook

03/12/2015 Farmers warned of targeted fraud attacks

By Simon Cripwell on Dec 03, 2015 09:42 am
Farmers are being warned to be extremely wary of any suspicious calls, texts or emails as fraudsters specifically target the agricultural sector when EU grant payments begin to arrive in bank accounts month.

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 03/12/2015 Farmers warned of targeted fraud attacks on Facebook

30/11/2015 Your Christmas shopping rights

By Simon Cripwell on Nov 30, 2015 01:25 pm
A useful guide to your Christmas shopping rights launched by Which?

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 30/11/2015 Your Christmas shopping rights on Facebook

30/11/2015 Why do I get unwanted phone calls? This video shows you why

By Simon Cripwell on Nov 30, 2015 12:57 pm
The data cycle showing how one person's personal data can be used, passed on and re-used in ways that people may not expect. The video also gives advice about what to do to reduce nuisance calls.

Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 30/11/2015 Why do I get unwanted phone calls? This video shows you why on Facebook

30/11/2015 Dangerous dolls seized

By Simon Cripwell on Nov 30, 2015 12:21 pm
Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service was able to seize over 60 fake and dangerous Maleficent dolls before they reached the shop shelves in time for Christmas.

 
Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like 30/11/2015 Dangerous dolls seized on Facebook



 

Recent Articles:

27/11/2015 Local traders warned to beware of cold calls from bogus publishers
27/11/2015 Dyson service bogus engineers
27/11/2015 Loan scam warning
26/11/2015 Indesit and Hotpoint issue fire-risk warnings over tumble dryers
26/11/2015 Trading Standards offer help as Black Friday approaches

Our mailing address is:
Warwickshire County Council
Shire Hall
Warwick, Warwickshire CV34 4RL
United Kingdom