Scam Alerts from Coventry Trading Standards - 17th May 2016

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Scam Alerts from Coventry Trading Standards - 17th May 2016

In this issue:

Dementia Awareness Week - 15-21 May

DAW16

‘Living Well’ with dementia is the message across events and activities taking place in Coventry and Warwickshire during Dementia Awareness Week.

A study has shown that 40% of older people in the UK with dementia are regularly targeted by scam mail resulting in some people losing significant amounts of money.  

15% have been approached by rogue traders or had unnecessary work done on their properties.

70% were routinely targeted by rogue traders over the telephone.

62% had been approached by cold callers or doorstep sales people.

Scams can have a devastating impact on the health and wellbeing of people, especially older ones.

It is therefore vital for people who may be vulnerable and those who care for them, including friends and relatives to understand and recognise what a scam is and what can be done if their loved ones have been targeted.

Information on how to recognise and beat the scammers is available on our website

Registering your phone number with The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is FREE and can offer some protection against nuisance calls. Visit: www.tpsonline.org.uk or call 0845 070 0707.

There are also ‘call blocking’ devices available but before buying one do your homework first. Look at online reviews recorded by people who have purchased one rather than agreeing to purchase from someone who has called you out of the blue.

Take a look at events taking place in Coventry and Warwickshire during Dementia Awareness Week.

For more information on Dementia visit the Dementia Friends website


Persistent and pushy doorstep callers in the Allesley area

Doorstep Crime

Trading Standards have been alerted to the fact there have been doorstep callers in Parkhill Drive, Allesley offering to clean out gutters.

It has been reported that they are very pushy and will not take no for an answer. The callers had green tops on with a logo, and appeared to be going round on foot.

Please warn your neighbours, particularly the elderly or vulnerable, not to open the door to strangers or agree to any contract on the doorstep. Some doorstep callers may offer poor quality services at inflated prices and if a caller is not genuine, they may be gathering information for future crime.

Keep in mind that if cold callers don’t get any work in your area, they are less likely to return.

REMEMBER - a trader who ignores any request by you to leave your home and not return commits a criminal offence.

‘Free Boiler’ leaflet

Green

A local resident from the Coundon area has reported receiving a very unprofessional looking leaflet printed on plain A4 white paper.

It is offering a ‘Free Boiler’ with Government grants ‘guaranteed’ under new eco targets.

Whilst there is a Government backed Eco scheme, the criteria for application is complex, so a quick way to check if you qualify is to call the Energy Saving Trust advice service on 0300 123 1234 and answer a few basic questions. In some instances, householders may be required to contribute.

If you do qualify, Trading Standards advise that you go directly to one of the main energy suppliers offering the deal – you do not need to be a customer to use them.

Bogus Barclays Bank texts

Barclays Phone Checker

A resident from the Mount Nod area of Coventry has reported receiving a text message purporting to be from Barclays Bank.

The resident was advised that their debit card had just been used to purchase Apple products to the value of £1,900, and fraud was suspected.

A contact telephone number was offered for the resident to phone immediately. Suspicions were raised, and the resident chose to contact Barclays directly on a trusted number.

Barclays Bank states that if they do have to send a text message whilst monitoring accounts for fraud, you will only be asked to respond with a ‘Y’ or ‘N’.

They also advise that if you get a call, voicemail or text claiming to be from Barclays Fraud Team only use telephone numbers that appear on their own website, or verify any contact number left using their telephone number checker 

Recall – Lidl Harvest Basket Potato Wedges

Wedges

Lidl is recalling Harvest Basket Potato Wedges because they contain wheat (gluten) which is not mentioned in English on the label. This makes the product a possible health risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten.

Product: Harvest Basket Potato Wedges (frozen)
Pack size: 750g
Batch code: L6108
Best before date: 18 April 2018

No other Lidl products are known to be affected.

Advice: If you have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten, do not eat it. Instead return it to the store from where you bought it for a full refund.

Recall – Costco Organic by Nature Organic Vegetable Medley

Product Recall

Costco Wholesale has recalled its Organic by Nature Organic Vegetable Medley as a precautionary measure due to possible listeria contamination. Listeria is a food bacterium that can cause food poisoning.

Risk: The product may have been contaminated by listeria and be a possible risk to health.

Brand name: Organic by Nature

Product: Vegetable Medley
Pack size: 2.5kg
Best before date: 7 February 2017

Advice: If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. Instead, dispose of the product and Costco Warehouse will provide a refund on your next visit.

For more information on scams, visit: www.coventry.gov.uk/scams

How to report scams