By Simon Cripwell on Jul 31, 2015 11:29 am
Warwickshire Trading Standards is now on Facebook
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By Simon Cripwell on Jul 28, 2015 10:32 am
Computer viruses are often hidden by fraudsters and hackers in emails which are then sent to unsuspecting computer uses. The emails themselves are often designed to trick the recipient in to opening them.
In Scams Awareness Month 2015, Warwickshire Trading Standards is sending out this warning.
When a bogus attachment is opened, a virus can be released, potentially stealing personal and financial information and generally causing havoc! This can end up being very costly to the computer user.
These bogus emails masquerade as ones you might expect to receive, including:
- Holiday etickets and flight boarding passes
- Etickets for events and days out
- Invoices for goods or services
- Emails simply entitled 'copy' as requested'
- Insurance paperwork or similar documents
- Notifications from banks or shops, for example statements
- Advertisements
- 'Funny' emails
Many of these bogus emails will be caught by your email providers spam email filter, but there is always a chance that some will get through.
Follow this advice
- Only open email attachments that you are expecting and that come from a trusted source.
- Make sure you are using Internet security software that scans your emails for viruses. Keep your software up to date.
- Use a spam filter. This will catch some fraudulent emails.
- Always delete suspect emails without opening them or their attachments
- Do not click on web links or download files sent through emails or instant messages by someone you don’t know.
Never open an attachment in an unusual or unexpected email! It may contain a virus!
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By Simon Cripwell on Jul 27, 2015 02:35 pm
Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service and its Midlands based Trading Standards partners are working with the home security industry to stamp out rogue traders
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By Simon Cripwell on Jul 27, 2015 01:50 pm
A Warwickshire consumer contacted Trading Standards after being targeted by an iPad scam which is circulating widely.
Whilst browsing the Internet the consumer's iPad froze and an iOS error message was displayed with a phone number to ring. The consumer rang the number, only to be told that he needed to pay $50 to have his device unfrozen.
This is a scam in which fraudsters use viruses ( ransomware) to attack computer devices, lock them (or give the impression they are locked) and then demand a payment, (or ransom) to unlock them.
The lock screen may look like the message has been sent by the Police or foreign law enforcement agency such as the FBI. This is untrue.
NEVER pay!
There is plenty of advice on the Internet about how to remove and protect against ransomware You may need to reset your device and run anti-virus software. Seek professional advice from a trustworthy source.
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By Simon Cripwell on Jul 27, 2015 11:43 am
Residents are warned to beware of cold calls from people claiming to be phoning from the 'British Government Grants & Treasury Department' (no such Government department exists). The callers claim that the consumer has been awarded an £8000 grant. To receive the grant, the callers ask the consumer to pay a refundable deposit of £110 via a money transfer service! The same callers may also ask for bank account details or use different names, all associated with the UK Government.
This is an Advanced Fee Fraud whereby fraudsters ask their potential victims to make advance or upfront payments for goods, services and/or financial gains that do not materialise.
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By Simon Cripwell on Jul 24, 2015 12:39 pm
A consumer reported receiving an unexpected phone call from someone who claimed that they had been hand-picked to receive an £8000.00 reward from the 'Local Government Treasury'. All the consumer was required to do to receive the 'award' was to visit their Post Office, withdraw £110 and send it off in an envelope!
This is an Advanced Fee Fraud whereby fraudsters ask their potential victims to make advance or upfront payments for goods, services and/or financial gains that do not materialise.
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By Simon Cripwell on Jul 24, 2015 09:55 am
Warwickshire Trading Standards has received reports of rogue landscape gardeners operating in the Shipston on Stour area. The rogue traders are going door to door and targeting elderly and vulnerable people. They are reported to to be driving white transit vans. Two incidents were reported in the Shipston area. Work had been carried out to a very poor standard.
Never buy goods or services from unexpected doorstep sellers/traders. Always seek quotes from local reputable traders and go on recommendation wherever possible.
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By Simon Cripwell on Jul 23, 2015 02:01 pm
Warwickshire residents are warned to beware of rogue traders offering roof and driveway spray cleaning services door to door. Rogue traders work is over-priced and of poor quality.
Consumers should think twice before agreeing to their roofs being spray washed. Using high pressure jets on roofs can lift tiles and cause damage.
Rogue traders offering to spray wash driveways often claim that the solution they use 'seals' the driveway, preventing weed growth. In reality, they often 'treat' the driveway with milk or sand, neither of which will prevent weed growth.
More information on scams, frauds and rogue traders
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By Simon Cripwell on Jul 23, 2015 01:42 pm
Warwickshire residents are warned to beware of unexpected phone calls from people claiming to be calling to award them £8000 in UK Government grants. The callers phone number suggests that they may be phoning from Mozambique!
This is an advanced fee fraud where those targeted will be asked to make up front payments in order to receive their non-existent grant.
Never provide then with information and always put the phone down.
More information on scams and frauds
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By Simon Cripwell on Jul 23, 2015 01:33 pm
People in Nuneaton have reported receiving unexpected phone calls from a 'boiler servicing company'. The caller claims that they know the resident's boiler needs servicing but just needs to take their Visa card number again, as they weren't sure it has been 'written down correctly'!
Never reveals personal or financial information to any cold caller. Chances are, if you are asked, you're giving your card numbers to a fraudster!
More information on scams and frauds
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By Simon Cripwell on Jul 21, 2015 12:11 pm
Fraudsters are targeting investment scam victims with further scams. A Warwickshire consumer who invested in land following an approach by a company which later folded (and its Director banned), was recently approached again by another company offering to buy his land.
The business claimed to be acting on behalf of a Chinese investment company. All the consumer needed to do was to make an up-front 'Surety Bond' payment of £14,000!
Scam victims are often added to 'suckers' lists and targeted again and again!
Advice on investment scams
Fraudsters cold call or email consumers and use high pressure sales techniques and sophisticated brochures/materials to get them to buy in to unregulated high risk investments.
The fraudsters take a large cut of any money 'invested' and as the investment usually fails to deliver the promised returns, investors are left with little or nothing.
Beware of offers to invest in the following:
- Land banks
- Overseas property
- Forestry schemes
- Fine wines
- Art
- Rare earth metals
- Storage facilities
- Carbon credits
- Shares in companies you have never heard of (boiler room scams)
More information on scams and frauds
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