29/07/2013 Blue Badge Service Warning
Users
of blue badges are warned to beware of conmen operating in the Warwick
area, falsely claiming to be from the ‘Blue Badge Service’.
One
elderly resident had an unexpected visit from two men who called at her
house offering ‘help’ with her blue badge. One asked about her stair
lift and both gained access to her property, obtaining her key safe
number.
29/07/2013
Data Fax Warning
Warwickshire businesses are warned to
beware of faxes from ‘organisations’ asking them to ‘update’ or ‘verify’
company data. This warning comes after a Rugby business reported to Trading
Standards receiving a fax requesting updated company data.
The small print on the fax revealed
that had the company provided the information and faxed the document back, they
would have unwittingly signed up to a monthly registration fee of 97 Euros!
29/07/2013
Expo Warning
Trading Standards are warning businesses that attend
exhibitions to be careful what they sign up for after a North Warwickshire
business received a demand for advertising. The business had thought they had
completed an exhibition survey but had in fact unwittingly signed an
advertising agreement!
29/07/2013
Phone Microsoft Scam
A consumer reported to Warwickshire Trading Standards
that his elderly father had experienced unexpected problems with his computer, ending
in a pop up appearing on his screen asking him to phone Microsoft on the number
given in the pop up to resolve the problem.
He did so and spoke to someone he believed was a Microsoft
representative. The consumer provided his credit card to pay for the ‘fix’ but fortunately
his bank prevented any transactions being made.
The consumer’s computer had in fact contracted a virus
that caused the problems and created the pop up, directing the user to the
bogus Microsoft employee!
29/07/2013 ‘Free’ Magazine Trial Scam
A consumer reported to Warwickshire
Trading Standards receiving an unexpected phone call from a company to tell her
that they would be receiving a ‘free’ magazine trial which they could cancel
within 14 days. The consumer provided their card details but money was immediately
taken from their account. Never provide your credit card details to
unexpected callers.
29/07/2013 Cold Calling Health Questionnaire
Warwickshire residents are warned to
beware of cold calls from people asking health questions. A resident reported
the matter after believing she was speaking to a hospital.
These unexpected calls are likely to
be from marketing companies gathering information that they can then sell on.
Never provide personal or financial information to unexpected or cold callers.
29/07/2013
Burglar Alarm Sales Warwick
Consumers in Warwick are warned to beware of cold
calls from companies offering ‘free’ burglar alarms. Such alarms typically come
with expensive monitoring contracts and may be completely unsuitable for the
needs of the individual resident. Always speak to your local Police crime
prevention officer or NHW before making any security alarm purchasing decisions.
29/07/2013 Mobile Phone ValuationsBe very cautious before you send your
old mobile phone away for a valuation/to be sold. Warwickshire Trading
Standards has received a number of complaints from consumers who sent their
phones for valuation, only to find that the price quoted was much less than
they were expecting. Having requested their phone back it did not then arrive!
Always check the companies you intend
to use carefully. Google the company name to see what others are saying about
them.
29/07/2013 Bogus Community Police Officer
Warwickshire Trading Standards are warning
Kenilworth consumers and businesses to beware of unexpected cold calls from
people falsely claiming to be Community Support Officers. The callers offer
advertising space in an information booklet which they claim will be sent to
local schools and which relates to sports facilities for children.
In reality the callers work for bogus publications
companies who con people in to buying advertising in publications with little
or no circulation (and therefore no worth). They often falsely claim to be working
for a local emergency service to give them legitimacy.
Please
feel free to cascade this information to whomever you feel appropriate
(including using the information in your newsletters/websites etc.).
If you have any information you wish to provide to
Warwickshire Trading Standards Service, either for our information, or
to appear in future email alerts, please email me.
To add, amend or remove your details from this email circulation list, again, please email me.
Simon Cripwell
Trading Standards Officer
Warwickshire Trading Standards Service
Communities
Warwickshire County Council
Old Budbrooke Road Warwick CV35 7DP
Tel: 01926 414039
Mob: 07771 975570
My normal working days are Monday to Thursday
person in the
UK should be on their own on Christmas Day unless they want to be. This might
sound like a simple and obvious statement? They would agree. However, research
conducted by the WRVS suggested that just under a quarter of a million older
people spent Christmas alone last year.
If you are going on holiday this summer, it is essential you
take the relevant precautions to make sure your home is safe and secure from
burglars. Burglars target houses that look empty, especially during the holiday
period. Here is some advice on how to ensure your home is kept safe and secure
so you don’t come home to a nasty shock:
Supt Debra Tedds
Sam Dimmer 