|
In this issue:
 Scams Awareness Month 2015 launches today and we are calling on residents to expose scams and help stop more people from falling prey to clever cons that fleece them of thousands of pounds.
Scams cost UK consumers millions of pounds each year so if you spot a scam or become a vicitm, please let us know.
Visit
our website for more information on this year’s campaign.
Back
to top
|
On 25 June 2015 Mohammed
Sardar (28) and Arden Mustafa (30) were sentenced after pleading guilty to 19
offences and 12 offences respectively to selling illegal foreign cigarettes,
counterfeit tobacco and non-duty paid cigarettes.
Mohammed Sardar, the owner of a shop called Babylon of
435 Foleshill Road, Coventry was sentenced to a five month custodial sentence whilst
Arden Mustafa, a worker in the shop was given a 10 week custodial sentence.
The shop was investigated following a report from a
social worker who had been told by a young person that they sell illicit
cigarettes to young people. A 15 year old child was enlisted to buy cigarettes
on behalf of Trading Standards from the shop, and they were sold a pack of 20 foreign labelled cigarettes for £3.
Officers returned to the shop and illegal
cigarettes and tobacco were found and in total nearly 500 packets of cigarettes
and 70 packets of illegal tobacco were seized.
Full details of the case can be found in our press
release dated 26th June 2015.
If you spot or believe a trader in
Coventry is supplying illegal tobacco products or is selling age restricted
items to children, please report it to us using our online reporting form.
Young volunteers are also needed to help Trading Standards
check on shops. If you know a young person aged 15 or 16 and they are willing
to help, please email: trading.standards@coventry.gov.uk
Back to top
 Trading Standards has renewed its warnings about copycat government websites following a raid that resulted in the arrests of five people.
Colleagues raided four locations across London and the Home Counties last week as part of an ongoing crackdown on sites that appear to sell government services.
National Trading Standards (NTS) said the website that was the focus of the raids had attracted more than 500 complaints from consumers who thought they were using the government service before realising they had been "duped" into paying more than £100 for fake documents.
We would remind residents to only use the official www.gov.uk website to buy government services such as renewing driving licences, European health insurance cards or passports rather than search engines that often displayed copycat sites.
It is also urging users to report websites that they suspect of being copycats to Citizens Advice, saying complaints were crucial in helping enforcement teams.
Back to top
|
 We are highlighting a Product Recall issued by Homebase relating to their 10 Litre Dehumidifier Product numbers: 623182.
This is after they become aware of a
potential safety issue on the above dehumidifiers that may cause them to
overheat and cause a fire hazard. This recall only affects the above products
sold between June 2006 and December 2008. If in any doubt please ring their Helpline to obtain advice.
Homebase advise customers who purchased
one of these products to disconnect it immediately and return it to the nearest
Homebase store for a full refund.
24hr Helpline: 0800 389
4039 or: 0370 2422993
Back
to top
|
 Argos have recalled their Toddler Bed Bundles
- Cat no:
- 226/7669 – Thomas
the Tank
- 239/3887 – Disney Princess Dreams
- 119/9893 – Disney Cars Speed
- 245/6652 – Minnie Mouse Café
- 330/8132 – Peppa Pig George Pig Roar
- 267/6078 – Ultimate Spiderman
- 139/8601 – Peppa Pig Funfair
- 275/2789 – Disney Doc Mc Stuffins Hugs
- 248/2808 – Mickey Mouse Boo
- 275/6493 – Disney Sofia 1st Academy
- 119/9903 – Disney Winnie the Pooh
- 289/8382 – Disney Frozen Crystal
Argos have been made
aware of potential quality concern on a very small number of products.
The thread on the
seam of the pillow can become loose and in very rare instances could lead to an
entanglement hazard.
Please check your
child's pillow for any loose threads which are longer than 5cm and, if so,
return the pillow to store for a full refund.
Contact 0345 640
2020 for further information.
Back
to top
|
For
more information on scams, visit: www.coventry.gov.uk/scams
| 
