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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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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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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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.

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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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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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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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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

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