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Every day, people throughout the UK are falling victim to mass marketed scams such as bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws and sweepstakes, fake psychics, and get rich quick schemes.
Below are some examples of common scams and undesirable practices.
Visit the Think Jessica website. to read one victim's true story.
Research suggests that only a small minority of victims actually report the scam to authorities. If you find that you’ve been a victim of a scam, or you know of someone who has been a victim, try to help others by reporting it.
Consumer Direct, the government advice service, has added a reporting function to its website to help in the efforts against mass marketed scams.
The online reporting form allows the public to record details of the type of scam that they have encountered, provide information on the potential scammers, and add any further information which they feel may be of use to the authorities. Each submitted form is kept on Consumer Direct's database and is made available to Local Authority Trading Standards Services and the Office of Fair Trading to help in their battle against persistent scammers.
The scams reporting form can be accessed on the Consumer Direct website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/watch_out/scams/.
If you, or someone you know needs further advice please call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06, or if you are a Westminster resident, call Westminster Trading Standards on 0207 641 1111.
Please note that if you have lost money as a result of a scam, this should be reported to your local police or to the Metropolitan Fraud Squad, Wellington House, 67-73 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6BE.
See our Press Releases & Enforcement Actions and Latest Developments pages for details of scams work undertaken.
Here is a list of topics contained in this page. To see more, click on a topic or scroll down the page:
Won a prize? Unexpected parcel waiting to be collected? Had a telephone call saying you are a winner or been told there's a parcel waiting for collection - which you are not expecting? Watch out as you might be asked to telephone a premium rate number - which could cost you £s - for an item worth pence!
International Lottery. Received a card saying you've won money in an international lottery - but you've never taken part? Ignore it! Bin it!
Internet. Received an email supposedly from a bank requesting your personal details - including your PIN? Don't reply! Banks won't ask for this information as they already have these details!
Working from home? Be wary of adverts for working at home that claim you can earn £1,000s. Don't send money in advance.
Be careful if you order a ring tone for your mobile. You might be signing up for an unlimited number of downloads costing you £s.
Always check the terms and conditions before ordering a ring tone.
Organisers of mock auctions will usually book a venue for one day only and then advertise the event as a clearance sale or stock liquidation. Sometimes they will sublet or squat in an empty shop for a few days or weeks.
They often distribute leaflets advertising expensive branded goods at greatly reduced prices. However, these items are not normally available, or if they are, they may be damaged or faulty returned stock or even counterfeit.
You cannot just walk in and buy these goods like in a normal shop. Organisers will try and get the audience into a buying frenzy by handing out free gifts and selling genuine items to stooges, acting as customers. You will be pressured into buying goods that you do not want.
Customers who have purchased inferior goods, at inflated prices, are often left feeling angry and embarrassed and unable to get a refund.
Normally, the best way to buy tickets is from the theatre box office. Ticket touts on the street, outside theatres, are not licensed for street trading.
If you buy tickets from any agent, always:
You should be aware of this information before you agree to buy tickets from an agent.
For further information on the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) official theatre ticket booth, see www.OfficialLondonTheatre.co.uk
For further information on ticket agents registered with the Society of Tickets Agents & Retailers (STAR), see www.s-t-a-r.org.uk
To see a copy of our 'Going to see a show?' leaflet, please click here.
Note that to view the above document you may need to have installed the free Adobe Acrobat PDF reader. This can be obtained from the Adobe website.
Be cautious if you receive a prize notification through the post or by email. Read any small print carefully. Some competitions invite you to claim your allocated prize by telephoning a hotline number. This number might be charged at a premium rate and last many minutes. Or there may be an administration fee to process your claim. You might end up paying £9 in telephone charges for a plastic pen or some cheap jewellery.
Always look at the actual selling price, not just the amount of discount that may be marked. Check any promotional small print to ensure the reduction is genuine. Shop around and compare prices to get the best deal.
Beware of never ending 'sales' or 'closing down' claims.
Bogus schemes target and rip off those least able to lose money. They entice people with promises of earning easy money.
Be cautious of schemes that ask for an advance registration fee. You might only receive a leaflet telling you to place an advert, like the one you responded to.
Be careful with schemes that ask you to send money for home assembly kits. When completed, you should be paid for your work plus the original fee sent. Rogue companies often argue that your completed goods are not up to standard and don't pay.
Counterfeit goods are shoddy, inferior copies of branded goods. Proceeds are often used to fund more serious crimes involving drugs or money laundering. Sellers are often gone the next day so you can't get a refund.
Beware of counterfeit perfumes sold by unlicensed street traders. Apart from the inferior quality and smell, they probably havenít been tested to ensure they are safe.
Beware of goods sold at car boot sales. Counterfeit software may not work and can contain viruses. Counterfeit video tapes and DVDs may not contain the film shown on the cover or be of very poor quality.
Cowboy builders may claim they are working in your area and have noticed a defect at your house or have unused materials, like tarmac and that they could use it to tarmac your drive. Cowboy builders may initially quote a low price for work, even though they have not carried out a thorough survey. However, when (and if) the work is completed, the total bill may be very expensive.
You are unlikely to receive any paperwork or any details will be vague or false. So you will have difficulty tracing the builder.
Don't use a cowboy trader and politely decline their services.
TrustMark is a Government backed initiative, supported by the building industry and consumer protection organizations which helps consumers to find reliable, trustworthy tradesmen. Visit their website for further information.
If you are thinking of getting building work or home improvement works done, Consumer Direct also has useful advice and links for consumers. Click here.
Like cowboy builders, an unscrupulous doorstep seller will either pressurise you into buying goods or services you do not want or even distract you whilst an accomplice burgles your house.
They often target the elderly or vulnerable. They may tell you lies and you may not know who they are, should you need to get a refund. They may not tell you about your right (in certain circumstances) to cancel the contract.
Always ask for identification and telephone the companyís office to check the callers identification. Never let uninvited sellers into your home ñ be polite but firm. Be very cautious of whom you give personal information too.
Be cautious with offers of free holidays. You may be being invited to attend a timeshare presentation. You could be subject to a hard sell and offered incentives like cheaper flights to make you sign on the day. You should be very careful if you sign up to a holiday scheme that does not allow a 10 day cooling off-period in which to cancel.
If you really want to buy a timeshare, ask the advice of a solicitor, speak to a trade association and carefully check any small print.
Unlicensed money lenders target people in most need. They charge very high interest, meaning people are often forced to take out a second loan to pay off the first. Often people loose control of their debts in this way. Lenders can become nasty if debtors fall behind on their payments.
Do not use unlicensed money lenders. They operate illegally. If you are in debt, seek the advice from a body like the Citizens Advice Bureau.
We are aware of a number of rogue publishers operating currently. These publishers target businesses in a number of ways and in a number of different guises. Please click here for a guide on what you need to know about publishing scams.
If you are a Westminster resident or trader, please click here for our contact details
To find your local Trading Standards Service, please click here to visit the Trading Standards Central website
For general advice on avoiding or identifying the latest scams and practices, visit the Consumer Direct 'Scams' website.
To find out more about the Office of Fair Trading's "Scam Buster" campaign, please click here.
For further information on financial scams and frauds, for example Advance Fee Frauds, please visit the Metropolitan Police website. Click here. Further information can also be found on the National Criminal Intelligence Service's website. Click here.