Scam warnings over festive season

Trading Standards Warnings(for Blackpool and Fylde residents)

 

21 December 2011

 

Cold Weather Warnings & Current Scams

 

Cold calling for property repairs during bad weather

Lancashire residents are to be warned not to do business with doorstep callers who may offer to carry out repairs to property after the spell of bad weather.  A lady in the Lytham St Annes area recently paid £6,000 for some roof repairs when in fact no work had been carried out.

 

As usual, the advice is to only use reputable trades people, rather than cold callers who may not give correct details.  For help in finding a trader to carry out property repairs, contact Help Direct on 0303 333 1111 or go to www.safetrader.org.uk.

 

 

Telesales for security systems

Currently Preston and Broughton areas are reporting receiving telephone calls from a business offering to fit security alarms, falsely claiming to be working with the Police.  The business will make an appointment to call at your home.

 

Trading Standards advice is to say no to such sales visits, which can often use high pressure selling techniques to get you to sign up.  Telesales calls can be significantly reduced by joining the Telephone Preference Service, to register for this free service ring 0845 0700707. 

 

 

Energy prepayment cards

Reports have been received of door to door sales of half price energy pre payment cards for household meters.  Do not be tempted to buy these over the doorstep – they will not work and you will have to pay again for the legitimate card.

 

 

Unsolicited shower fitting

Lancashire residents are receiving a card through their doors advising their shower fitting is on the way, if you do not want it please contact us within 10 days with your name and address details.  This is a legitimate company, the shower fitting is free but Trading Standards advice is beware of who you pass your personal details onto.

 

Please also be aware you are under no duty to return any unsolicited goods received and you do not have to pay for them.

 

 

Unsolicited energy saving devices

Householders throughout the country are receiving telesales calls claiming to be their energy supplier or working in partnership with them, offering a plug in device which they say can save them 40 per cent off their energy bills.  The device costs £99.

 

Trading Standards have had a number of the items tested which not only fail to satisfy electrical safety but do not deliver any tangible energy savings.

 

 

 

Hong Kong Bank Scam

This banking scam is still doing the rounds, currently in Lytham St Annes and Ormskirk.  The personally addressed letter explains that a client with the same name as the recipient has died and left $6.8 million unclaimed.

 

Hiu Au-Yeung suggests that the recipient could receive 50% of this sum, just for providing their details so that the money can be transferred out of Hong Kong . The letter asks for no money or details at this point but similar scams rely on asking for money to pay for administrative details and using the victim's bank details to steal from their account.

 

Earlier this month, Trading Standards warned of a similar scam involving a letter purporting to be from Pan Wang Ong, from the Hung Kai Finance Company in Hong Kong .

 

Refer any complaints to Lancashire Trading Standards Service, Room D21, County Hall, Preston, Lancs PR1 3NU via Consumer Direct tel 08454 040506.