@WAR - Scam update from WCC

01/12/2016 Facebook sellers warning 01-12-2016 11:26 AM GMT Warwickshire consumers are warned to be wary of purchasing goods from Facebook sellers where payment is asked for via a direct a bank transfer. One consumer reported buying a phone from someone advertising via Facebook. The buyer and seller communicated using messenger. However, after the payment was made , the seller blocked the buyer and deleted their chat communication. The phone was not delivered. Buyers should consider paying in cash and avoid wherever possible bank transfers. More advice on buying and selling on Facebook Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506. Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert 01/12/2016 Government ‘money’ overpayment scam 01-12-2016 11:05 AM GMT Warwickshire residents have reported receiving phone calls to say that they were shortly to receive a cheque from the Government for money that they had overpaid. The callers then go on to try and obtain bank details and other personal and financial information. Residents are warned never to reveal any personal or financial information to cold callers. This information can be used for identity theft and other crimes. Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506. Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert

30/11/2016 ‘Model’ agency’ warning 30-11-2016 12:47 PM GMT Warwickshire residents are warned to beware of  'model agencies' that take huge fees for portfolios of photographs and promise modelling contracts that never materialise. One Warwickshire resident reported paying almost £800 after attending a 'photo-shoot'. She was given assurances that a modelling contract would be forthcoming and paid almost £800 for a portfolio of photographs. However, no contract was offered. Rogue modelling agencies have little or no links to the genuine modelling industry. They show a great deal of interest in a new client and often makes promises that a contract will be forthcoming in order to get the client to pay hundreds of pounds for a portfolio of photographs, often worth very little. Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506. Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert 30/11/2016 ‘Nottingham Knockers’ operating in South Warwickshire 30-11-2016 10:03 AM GMT Warwickshire Trading Standards has received reports from Warwickshire Police that groups of so called 'Nottingham Knockers' have been operating in the South Warwickshire area in the past few days. These doorstep callers offer small household products for sale which may be of poor quality and pressure homeowners in to buying by falsely claiming to be ex-convicts on probation schemes. Warwickshire Trading Standards advise householders not to buy at the door from unexpected doorstep traders. If in doubt, keep your door closed. Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506. Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert

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