News

Hotel payment error warning

We have received several enquiries about emails stating that a particular hotel has made an error transaction against the consumer's account. The email has an attachment which the consumer is asked to open and complete with personal bank account details to claim a refund.

Different hotel names are used in the emails and different payment amounts are given in the versions of the email reported to us.

The attachment may contain a virus and should not be opened. The email is not genuine and is a clear example of phishing, using a deception to gather information which will assist criminals to defraud the consumer's account or to place orders for goods using the consumer's details.

Do not respond to the emails.

The following is an example of the text of the email: 

“We are sorry to inform you that on July 26th, 2011 Hotel XX transaction debiting from your account for an overall amount of $1031. For noncompliance of the service contract this Hotel was divested accreditation in Moverick Company. For the return of funds please contact your bank and fill information in the attached form. In the attachment you will find expense sheet with the sum of wrong transaction writing-down”.

Consumers report concerns about text messages offering money for a recent accident.
 

Several consumers have reported receiving a text message from businesses offering their services to help claim compensation for a recent accident. Many of the consumers who have received the message have not been involved in an accident and are concerned why they have received such a message.

Trading Standards advice: This may be marketing campaign in the same way as you receive marketing literature through the post. However the Information commissioner’s advice to businesses is that they should only send electronic messages where they have the recipients permission. Permission can include where you have given your details while in contact with the business about buying goods or services and the text message is for similar products. You should also be given information about the identity of the business sending the text message and how to stop messages being sent to you.

We have no evidence to suggest that the messages are a form of phishing but this is still a possibility and one of the reasons why we would urge caution should you receive such a message. Phishing is attempting to gather valuable sensitive information by posing as a legitimate business activity.

If the text message is not from a business you have previously contacted you should treat the message as suspect. Unlike general telesales calls, you can’t contact a central register to opt out of unsolicited text messages. The message should include a statement about how to stop receiving such messages and you can ask the company sending the texts to remove you from their database, they should arrange this. We would recommend doing a search on the internet before sending such a message to reduce the risk of responding to a phishing message.

If you continue to receive text messages from the company after you have requested they stop, contact the Information Commissioners office.

If you have been injured in an accident and think you may have a claim for compensation we would advise seeking advice from a solicitor. You can find a suitably qualified solicitor www.lawsociety.org.uk

Computer Virus scam

Gloucestershire residents continue to report telephone calls where they are warned that their computer is infected with a virus and is going to crash.

A recent development in one case was that the consumer was told that his security licence had expired and his computer would stop working unless the licence was renewed at a cost of £288.

Other cases have reported that the caller asks for remote access to be allowed, for an immediate fix to be carried out. The caller did not ask for a fee in one instance.

Trading Standards confirm these calls are bogus and are not being made by representatives of Microsoft as claimed in some cases.

Many of the calls appear to be from within the UK but we understand that they are in fact routed from overseas call centres.

Trading Standards advice is that you should not allow access to your computer in response to an unsolicited call nor should you give your credit or debit card details.

If you allow access the concern is that the caller can attempt to find personal data such as bank account information or use the access for other illegal online activity.

The proposed fix is an attempt to charge you for work which is unnecessary and may even allow the caller to install software to gather sensitive personal data to use for purposes of fraud.

Publishing scams: a problem for local businesses

Local businesses are often the target for various scams and one of the most commonly reported is the publishing scam.

A sales representative telephones to invite the local business to take out advertising in a magazine being produced for the fire service or police. The truth is that while the publication may refer to the police or fire service it is not being produced in co-operation with, or with the backing of, any of the emergency services.

The publisher will seldom give any information about where or when the publication will be distributed or how many will be printed. They will however be keen to send a payment demand and will chase payment often resorting to abuse or threats if the business refuses to pay.

The rogue publishers have also been reported to claim to have a recording of conversations where agreement for the advertisement to proceed was given.

Closely linked is the proposed publication of diaries, calendars and booklets to be distributed to schools. Even where the publication does appear it is often of poor quality with a small print run.

Publishing based scams also include:

• Confirmation of an order - where the caller claims to have spoken to someone in the business and just needs to sign off the advertisement details.

• Repeat business - where the publisher sends a copy of an advert requiring approval. The letter suggests that the business has previously advertised in the publication.

• Bogus Invoice - the business receives an invoice for an advert in a bogus publication without any prior contact. This will often suggest there has been prior agreement to an advert.

Our advice:

Be careful about giving any agreement or expression interest to unsolicited calls until you have had the opportunity to confirm the details of any proposed advertising. Be especially cautious of any publication which suggests a connection with local schools or the emergency services.

Council Tax Refund Scam

Gloucestershire residents have contacted Trading Standards to report a council tax refund scam. Local residents have received a phone call telling them they are entitled to a refund of their council tax and a payment of £7000 can be paid into their account. The caller requests confirmation of the consumer’s name and address and then asks for bank account details to transfer the money. The caller than asks for £100 fee to process the refund.

Trading Standards have confirmed that the caller is not calling on behalf of the Council and advise that consumers should not give out bank details to unverified callers. Anyone who has given out their bank details to a caller like this should contact their bank immediately.

Anyone who thinks they might be eligible for a refund should contact their local council directly on a verified phone number. If you are entitled to a refund on your council tax you should never be asked to pay a fee to receive a refund.

Energy saving device phone call

Consumers in the county have reported receiving calls about a electricity saving device that you simply plug into any socket and it will save money off your bills.

The calls are International calls and the caller claims the company is working with UK energy suppliers. In some of the calls the caller has the name of the consumer and they also make comments such as the consumer is a regular bill payer and other personal information such as the consumer is a pensioner.

The caller claims the device will save up to 40% of electricity bills simply by plugging it in. The price of the device is £99.

These products are sold in other countries but there is no evidence that they are effective or will work in the UK.

There is a risk that the goods will not be delivered or perform as claimed, and as the seller is outside the UK, once you have paid it is extremely unlikely that you will be able to get your money back.

Our advice is be cautious about giving your debit or credit card details out especially in response to unsolicited phone calls.

A useful link for information on energy saving is the energy saving trust.