21/05/2013 Genuine PPI claim? Advanced Fee Ukash Warning
21/05/2013 Businesses
Warned of Google Advertising Con!
A Warwickshire business reported to Trading Standards receive an unexpected call from a trader claiming to sell advertising on Google web pages. Eventually the business agreed to pay over £100 for set up charges and over £50 per month for the advertising. However, when the business looked to see if they could find their advertisement on-line, they could not. They then tried to cancel the agreement and found that the phone line of the trader was dead.
Businesses should ensure they always research carefully any trader offering advertising. Ensure that the trader is legitimate, has a verifiable address and can show evidence that they can deliver what they promise. Never simply buy goods or services from unexpected callers.
More on publication scams: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/wccweb.nsf/Links/5D0649278E3ED2CB80257886003647F7/$file/20120111_Business_scams.pdf
21/05/2013 Computer ‘Slowdown’ Con
A Warwickshire consumer reported to Trading Standards receiving an unexpected phone call from someone who claimed to be calling from ‘technical support’ to deal with a ‘problem’ with the consumer’s computer. The bogus ‘problem’ was described as a slow internet connection which the caller said may be due to a virus.
Had the consumer agreed to allow the caller access to his computer, the caller would probably have either stolen information or charged for adding unnecessary programs to the consumer’s PC.
21/05/2013 HMRC Warning
HMRC is aware of a letter which is being issued to companies and sole-traders by post requesting their VAT registration details to update a website portal.
Although this is not believed to be a phishing scam, there is an ‘offer’ from the company sending the letter to ‘advertise’ customer details on a German website for £797 per year. The cost of doing this is not clear until the small print is read.
This is nothing to do with HMRC and there is no legal obligation to reply to the letter or provide the sender with any details about your business.
Warwickshire Trading Standards Service are reminding consumers
using legitimate PPI claims companies that they should not have to pay money up
front and in advance to receive their pay-out. If you are asked to send
money in advance, for example using Ukash vouchers or Western Union
transfer, then it is highly likely you are being scammed.
One Warwickshire consumer reported that she was contacted
by a fraudster who pretend to be the genuine PPI claim back company she was
using. The fraudster told her that she was in line to receive a higher pay-out
than she had been led to expect. Her cheque would be brought to her home, but
only after she paid a fee in advance via Ukash vouchers!
Never pay up front to receive a refund, compensation or prize
money. Be extremely wary if you are asked to send money using Ukash vouchers or
by Western Union transfer. Fraudsters use these legitimate businesses because
it makes them difficult to trace. For more information on advanced fee fraud visit:
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraud-az-advance-fee-fraud
A Warwickshire business reported to Trading Standards receive an unexpected call from a trader claiming to sell advertising on Google web pages. Eventually the business agreed to pay over £100 for set up charges and over £50 per month for the advertising. However, when the business looked to see if they could find their advertisement on-line, they could not. They then tried to cancel the agreement and found that the phone line of the trader was dead.
Businesses should ensure they always research carefully any trader offering advertising. Ensure that the trader is legitimate, has a verifiable address and can show evidence that they can deliver what they promise. Never simply buy goods or services from unexpected callers.
More on publication scams: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/wccweb.nsf/Links/5D0649278E3ED2CB80257886003647F7/$file/20120111_Business_scams.pdf
21/05/2013 Computer ‘Slowdown’ Con
A Warwickshire consumer reported to Trading Standards receiving an unexpected phone call from someone who claimed to be calling from ‘technical support’ to deal with a ‘problem’ with the consumer’s computer. The bogus ‘problem’ was described as a slow internet connection which the caller said may be due to a virus.
Had the consumer agreed to allow the caller access to his computer, the caller would probably have either stolen information or charged for adding unnecessary programs to the consumer’s PC.
21/05/2013 HMRC Warning
HMRC is aware of a letter which is being issued to companies and sole-traders by post requesting their VAT registration details to update a website portal.
Although this is not believed to be a phishing scam, there is an ‘offer’ from the company sending the letter to ‘advertise’ customer details on a German website for £797 per year. The cost of doing this is not clear until the small print is read.
This is nothing to do with HMRC and there is no legal obligation to reply to the letter or provide the sender with any details about your business.
Please
feel free to cascade this information to whomever you feel appropriate
(including using the information in your newsletters/websites etc.).
If you have any information you wish to provide to
Warwickshire Trading Standards Service, either for our information, or
to appear in future email alerts, please email me.
For more information on scams, visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams
Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/warkstss
Simon Cripwell
Trading Standards Officer
Warwickshire Trading Standards Service
Communities
Warwickshire County Council
Old Budbrooke Road Warwick CV35 7DP
Tel: 01926 414039
Mob: 07771 975570
Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/warkstss
My normal working days are Monday to Thursday
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