Trading Standards is warning residents to be aware of the dangers of buying goods from the back of vans.

This comes after a report from a Coundon resident who purchased a television from the back of a white van in a nearby supermarket car park. The resident parted with £150 in cash for a television that then did not work.

Our advice is to never buy products from the back of a van or from unexpected doorstep callers, even if the product appears to be a bargain.

Buying such items in this way is risky as you will probably not be able to contact the trader should anything go wrong with the product. Also, the item may be stolen, unsafe or you may not get what you are shown.

Consumers are urged to only buy goods or services from businesses they know and trust.

If you have any information that may help us track down these sellers or you wish to report any incidents involving a rogue trader or doorstep crime, contact us on 03454 040506 or use our online reporting form

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Coventry Trading Standards are reminding people who are thinking of buying a dog to be cautious about illegally imported puppies.

The warning follows the quarantine of a Bichon Frise Maltese cross puppy after a Coventry vet discovered it had been brought into the UK illegally by its owners, who had purchased the dog in Romania.

The puppy was quarantined as it was less than ten weeks old – and although it had been vaccinated, it was too early for them to be effective.

A vaccine takes at least 21 days to take effect before an animal is fully protected. If this hasn’t occurred it undermines the protections in place to stop rabies coming to the UK.

The regulations on animal imports are in place to protect the UK’s rabies free status.

Trading Standards is advising people to make sure they know where their new puppy has come from, to check its age, make sure it has all the appropriate paperwork and that it has been completed correctly.

Full details of how the Pet Passport system works can be found at www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/overview . The website has all the information needed for anyone looking to import an animal.

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We are again warning Apple users to be aware of phishing emails attempting to steal your Apple ID log in details as well as personal and financial details.

Several local residents have reported receiving an authentic looking email ‘invoice’ from the Apple Store with regard to a ‘Music Membership’ monthly subscription. If you were to click on a link to take you to the Apple website this will actually take you to a fake website which will then ask you to provide personal information, including full credit / debit card details.

The Apple / iTunes Store will never ask you to provide personal information or sensitive account information (such as passwords or credit card numbers) via email.

If you receive what you think is a phishing email claiming to be from Apple you can forward it to them. Full information is available on the Apple website.

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In July, Trading Standards issued a warning in regards to bogus calls purporting to come from the local Citizens Advice Bureau and 'offering' debt advice.

We are now revisiting this following a further two reports from the Coventry Bureau. Both calls were made from a mobile number which immediately raises suspicions, and when personal information was requested with a view to offering debt advice, both residents terminated the calls.

The Citizens Advice Bureau would not make this kind of approach to any resident and certainly would not ask for personal information to be divulged.

We would advise that if any resident receives a similar call, do NOT give out any personal information, and hang up on the call. We are anxious for people not to be caught out, so please be on your guard for this or any other bogus caller.

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Sainsbury’s is recalling its ‘Raisin Milk Chocolate 200g’ with best before date 28 June 2017 because they may contain hazelnut and almond which are not declared on the label. This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to hazelnut and/or almond.

Product: Raisin Milk Chocolate

Brand: by Sainsbury’s

Pack size: 200g

Best Before date: 28 June 2017

Risk: Allergen: Nuts (Hazelnut and Almond)

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

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Waitrose is recalling its ‘Orange & Milk Chocolate Cookies 150g’ with best before date 30 March 2017 because some packs contain ‘Waitrose Hazelnut & Milk Chocolate Cookies’, and hazelnut is not declared on the label. This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to hazelnut.

Product: Orange & Milk Chocolate Cookies

Brand: Waitrose

Pack size: 150g

Best Before date: 30 March 2017

Risk: Allergen: Nuts (Hazelnut)

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

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