Bromley Trading Standards have issued a warning to consumers not to respond to scam emails purporting to be from the Royal Mail.
The messages claim that a parcel has been ‘detained’ by the Royal Mail and asks the recipient to fill out a form. Another message claims you have a tracked item awaiting collection.
This email contains a virus that might compromise personal information if the email is opened.
The Royal Mail is aware of these and other scam emails and provide advice at their website www.royalmail.com. Many look bona fides and may use a replica or their official logo.
Executive member for public protection and safety Cllr Tim Stevens warns: “Unless you are certain who or where emails have come from just ignore or delete the request.”
The advice issued by the Royal Mail is as follows:·
Royal Mail will never send you an email asking for credit card numbers or other personal or confidential information.
Royal Mail will never ask you to enter information on a page that isn’t part of their website.
Royal Mail will never include attachments unless the email was solicited by you and sent from a recognised member of Royal Mail staff.
For further advice on scams trading standards advise contacting ‘Action Fraud’ on 0300 123 2040 or visit their website at www.actionfraud.police.uk
(Source: Bromley council press release)
…..AND ‘POLICE OFFICERS’ AREN’T FROM THE POLICE
Businesses in Croydon are being targeted by scammers claiming to be police officers collecting money to produce a community support leaflet.
The council’s trading standards team is warning businesses to be aware of this latest method being used by criminals to part them from their money, and offering advice on how to deal with cold callers.
In the latest incident, the trading standards department was contacted by a local businessman who reported that he had been approached by a man posing as a police officer, seeking money and endorsement from small businesses in Croydon for the production of a leaflet designed, he claimed, to support, and offer information about, the local community.
His line was that the council’s economic development team was backing the publication, and that he was working on the project with team member Linda Hemingway – but nobody by that name works for Croydon council.
Cllr Simon Hoar, cabinet member for community safety, said: “It’s important that businesses realise that it’s not only householders that these scammers try to con.
“This isn’t the first time that their attentions have been turned on local businesses. “Vigilance must be maintained, and the asking of a series of pertinent questions is usually enough to deter all but the most persistent of scammers.
“And businesses should remember that it’s not only over the phone that these scammers try their luck – be on the look-out for unfamiliar invoices or maintenance workers that you’ve not called for.”
The council’s trading standards team recommends that anybody who is cold-called by somebody claiming to be a legitimate sales person or trader ask the following questions.
Where did you find our number?
What is your name?
What are your company’s contact details?
What is your address?
What are you selling?
How much will it cost?
The caller should be able to give clear answers – if they can’t, it’s a scam, put down the phone.
If you remain unsure, ask these supplementary questions.
Do you belong to a trade association, and, if so, which?
Are you based in the UK?
What is your telephone number?
To whom have you previously spoken regarding this matter?
The caller should be able to give clear answers – if they can’t, it’s a scam, put down the phone.
Any business approached by somebody claiming to be a police officer and asking for money, should contact the police on 101, or report it to Croydon trading standards on 020 8407 1311, and should not part with any money. (Source: Croydon council press release)
RELATIONSHIP OF TRADING STANDARDS AND BANKS SAVES VICTIM THOUSANDS
A Selsdon man was saved thousands of pounds thanks to the relationship built up between Croydon council’s trading standards team and local bank branches.
The 65-year-old was cold called by a man claiming to be from a landscaping company offering to carry out work on three conifers in the resident’s garden.
He agreed to the work outlined but, once the contractor was on site, it quickly escalated to include the building of a new patio and laying a soakaway to the property’s drive. The quoted price, too, rose; from an estimate of £6,500 – to £8,500.
The resident withdrew £2,000 from his bank account to make an initial payment to the contractor. The only work carried out saw the moving of a few bricks from one area of the existing patio to another, after which the contractor demanded a further £5,000.
When the resident made the withdrawal request, the bank assistant became suspicious and, after making enquiries, recommended the man report the matter to the trading standards department, before alerting officers himself.
When officers visited the man’s home, he admitted that he believed he might have been the victim of a con and showed officers a poorly written receipt that he had been given.
While the trading standards officers were present, the man telephoned and asked if the resident had withdrawn the requested £5,000.
The resident said that officers were with him, and one of them spoke to the caller, who said that he worked for the landscaping company. He challenged the officer as to why she was involved and ended the call when questions were put to him.
Cllr Simon Hoar, cabinet member for community safety, said: “Thanks to the established working relationship between our trading standards team and banks across the borough, staff at the victim’s bank intervened and he was saved at least £6,500. (Source: Croydon council press release)
…..BUT CHECK THAT TRADING STANDARDS OFFICERS ARE GENUINE!!!!
Lewisham council’s trading standards are warning residents not to make payments to anyone claiming to be from them.
In two recent separate incidents, residents were visited by bogus trading standards officers, and at one of the properties £2,500 was demanded from the resident.
But trading standards never ask residents for money.
If someone calls at your home claiming to be from trading standards ask for their full name, telephone number and the address of their office. Tell them to write to you but do not give them any personal information. (Source: Lewisham council press release).
FLY-TIPPER COUNTS THE COST
A Battersea woman who decided to add to a pile of fly-tipped rubbish in Croydon has been prosecuted by the council and fined £535, including costs, at Croydon magistrates court.
She was one of a number of people who created a large and unsightly mess on land opposite Reeves Corner.
Following an investigation by a council enforcement officer who went through several sacks of household waste, she was identified and issued with a fixed-penalty notice.
However, after failing to make payment, declining to attend an interview under caution and missing an initial court date, she finally surrendered herself and pleaded guilty.
A Croydon council spokesperson said: “The prosecution comes as a further warning to anyone who illegally fly-tips waste or drops litter on Croydon’s streets.
“As part of its ‘Keep it Clean’ campaign the council has recently announced a fresh investment of £100,000 to combat fly-tipping and has launched a mobile phone app making it easier for residents to report environmental crime.
“A team of officers is also patrolling town-centre locations and issuing fixed-penalty notices to anyone caught littering.”
Cllr Simon Hoar, cabinet member for community safety and public protection, said: “There’s no excuse whatsoever for fly-tipping and anyone who’s caught will be issued with a fine to remind them that it is not only antisocial but also illegal.
“Failure to pay will result in court action and a far bigger fine as the courts also frown on such behaviour.”
NOTE: Croydon council’s smartphone app, making easier the reporting of environmental crimes such as fly-tipping, graffiti, litter dropping and failing to pick up dog excrement, can be downloaded from the council’s website at www.croydon.gov.uk/app (Source: Croydon council press release)
DISPERSAL ORDER AIMS TO KEEP TRANSPORT HUBS SAFE
The Safer Croydon Partnership has imposed a six-month dispersal order in Broad Green.
The order, which started on Monday January 13th, followed reports from local residents who said they have felt intimidated by groups of youths gathering after dark.
The dispersal order gives officers the power to move on any groups of people that are behaving antisocially and prevent them returning to the area for 24 hours.
Sergeant Steve Ribano, leader of the Broad Green local policing team, said: “People are concerned about street drinking in London Road, and young people causing nuisance on the Tamworth Road estate.
“There are also concerns about antisocial behaviour around the transport hubs at West Croydon bus and railway stations. “This dispersal order will help us to deal with this.” (Source: Croydon council press release)
