Scam Alerts from Coventry Trading Standards - 27 May 2016

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Scam Alerts from Coventry Trading Standards - 27 May 2016

In this issue:

Rogue trader alert – Styvechale

Doorstepper

Trading Standards are warning residents in the Styvechale area to be on their alert to doorstep callers. This comes after a report was made to the local Police of an elderly resident who had been approached by a ‘roofing’ company.

The traders had already been up a ladder to ‘inspect’ the roof prior to knocking the door. The resident stated they were not interested and the roofers left. However, the two males returned again the next day. Fortunately, there was a visitor at the property who made it very clear that they should leave and not return. The males arrived in a small white or silver van with ladders on the roof.

Trading Standards advises never to deal with anyone who turns up at your door offering to do work or trying to sell items. If you do need work on your property or garden, use a reputable local trader recommended by friends or family or someone who has been vetted and is part of the Age UK (Coventry) Trusted Traders Scheme.

Warning – ‘free’ shopping voucher email

shopping

Reports of a scam email in order to gain personal details have been made by a local resident.

The resident was offered a £1000 shopping voucher for a well-known retailer in exchange for completing a short questionnaire requesting personal details, which thankfully they did not respond to.

Participants who do respond and enter personal information often find that instead of receiving a shopping voucher, they are inundated with unwanted telephone calls, emails and junk mail from telemarketers. Through the survey ,the scammers attain participants’ email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses.

Large retailers advise that they rarely, if ever, offer these kinds of deals to customers and never through unsolicited email campaigns.

Trading Standards advice to anyone who receives such an email is not to respond, even in jest. By responding, your details will be added to a list of respondents and you will begin to receive more scam emails, letters and phone calls.

Euro 2016 – beware ticket scams

euro

In the lead up to Euro 2016, Trading Standards are warning fans against getting ripped off on social media sites after a study has shown they accounted for half of all ticket sale scams.

Ticket fraud is very common in the run up to any popular event. Football’s showcase Euro 2016 tournament in France next month is a prime target for fake tickets, along with Wimbledon, Glastonbury and Wembley concerts with Beyoncé, Rihanna and Coldplay headlining.

Scammers will target victims via various social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Gumtree, or use bogus websites.

Trading Standards would urge avid fans to steer clear of those selling tickets online to events that have already sold out and only use official sites for tickets that are being resold.

Paying by credit card offers greater protection over other methods in terms of fraud, guarantees and non-delivery, as long as a single ticket costs more than £100 and less than £30,000.

Get Safe Online have issues guidance on buying tickets.

Recall – Costco Dr Praeger’s organic veggie burger 12 pack

Product Recall

Costco Wholesale has recalled its Dr Praeger’s Organic Veggie Burger 12pk 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: Dr Praeger’s
  • Product: Frozen Organic Veggie Burger
  • Pack size: 12 pack box
  • Best before dates:  11 Dec 2015 / 26 May 2016 / 20 April 2016
  • Lot Codes: W14BB F15CG R15CA

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.

Recall – Kellogg’s Special K Biscuit Moments without English on the label

Kellogs

Heron Foods is recalling packs of Kellogg’s Special K Biscuit Moments Cioccolato with ‘best before’ dates of 9 July 2016 and 14 July 2016 because the product label is not in English. This makes the product a possible health risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to soya, milk, wheat or gluten.

  • Product name: Special K Biscuit Moments Cioccolato
  • Product brand: Kellogg’s
  • Pack size: 5 pack, 125g
  • Best before dates: 9 July 2016 and 14 July 2016
  • Risk: Allergens: wheat (gluten), milk and soya

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

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

How to report scams