A scam highlighted nationally by Action Fraud has affected a Wyken resident.

It is a new variation of the HMRC telephone scam.

The resident was called by someone claiming to be from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), demanding immediate payment of £4000. The caller then suggested if it was paid in iTunes vouchers it would only be £1000.

Thankfully the resident realised this was a scam and hung up on the call.

Fraudsters like iTunes gift cards to collect money from victims because they can be easily redeemed and easily sold on. The scammers don’t need the physical card to redeem the value and instead get victims to read out the serial code on the back over the phone. The use of vouchers is an attractive scam as they are easy to sell on and hard to trace once used.

The scammers frequently use intimidation to get what they want, threatening to seize the victim’s property or involve the police. 

HMRC would never request the settling of debt through such a method.

Our advice - 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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A Styvechale resident received a telephone call from BT where an allegation was made that £1.45 was still owed on the last bill and should be paid immediately or risk the phone being disconnected.

As the resident is heavily reliant on the landline, ‘payment’ was made by debit card with full information, including the 3 digit security code, being offered.

After later feeling a bit uncomfortable with the call, checks were made with the resident’s bank where it transpired that over £1000 had already left the account.

The card is now cancelled and the bank is investigating.

We have also had another report from the Westwood area of Coventry where an automated message was left, allegedly from BT Customer Services. In this instance, the resident was advised there were issues with the phone system, and a number was left to call back on.

If you receive any suspicious call claiming to be BT do not give or confirm any personal or financial details, hang up, wait five minutes and then contact BT Customer Service on 0800 800 150.

Our advice is as above: Never give out personal information and hang up on the call!

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Rogue traders are individuals or groups of people who cold-call householders, often targeting vulnerable residents, claiming to be a bona fide business and purporting to offer services, most commonly buildings maintenance and repair. The light evenings and weekends can be an opportunity for these rogues to catch more people at home and offer work.

Trading Standards advise to be on your guard for such unsolicited approaches, and to stay vigilant especially if you have vulnerable or elderly people living nearby who may be potential targets.

If you didn’t arrange for a visit, politely decline any offers of work and close your door. Be firm, as rogue traders are in the habit of turning up more than once to try put pressure on people. These individuals will soon move on if their source of work – and income – dries up.

Trading Standards advise:

• Never agree to have work done or part with money on your doorstep.
• Always get written quotes from at least two traders for any work and if possible, go on personal recommendations from friends and family
• Any trader who calls at your home, and you employ to do a job, has to give you details of your right to cancel in writing. It is a criminal offence not to. When you enter into a contract at your home you are entitled to a 14 day cooling off period.
• The trader still has to provide details of your right to cancel in writing even if you employ someone as a result of receiving a leaflet through your door.
• The same applies if you have found someone on the Internet or Social Media. They too must give cancellation rights. Also remember, an address quoted by a trader may not be real or may be just an accommodation address where they have no physical presence.
• Don’t be pressurised into making a quick decision or sign anything especially if this allows the work or installation to start immediately. Give yourself time to think about it.
• Make sure you have full contact details for anyone you employ, including name, address and a landline number if possible.
• Always agree the price, payment arrangements and start/finish dates in writing before any work starts on your home.
• Don’t pay in full until you're completely satisfied with the work and consider using stage payments throughout the work.
• Keep your home and belongings safe during works and remember, anyone who is reluctant to provide written details does so for a reason. Don’t use anyone who refuses to give you a written quote or cancellation rights.

Also, be wary of leaflets posted through your door offering services; this can be just another way an unscrupulous trader will attempt to persuade you to have work done.

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

Another consideration is that by employing some doorstep tradespeople, you could also unwittingly become party to modern day slavery.

Modern slavery includes human trafficking and holding human beings in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour. It is quite often the case that vulnerable men are forced into manual labour. They will then receive very little pay and have to put up with poor living conditions.

Ask yourself, why is one company’s block paving so drastically cheaper than the rest? Think about the gardeners whose rates were so reasonable – did their workers look well-fed and have any breaks? 

If you have any concerns or believe someone working at your property may be being exploited, report it by calling the Modern Slavery helpline on 0800 0121 700 or going online.

If you do need work on your property or garden, use a reputable local trader recommended and used by friends or family or someone who has been vetted and is part of the Age UK (Coventry) Trusted Traders Scheme. This service is available to people of all ages living in the Coventry area and can be contacted by phoning 024 7643 3982.

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More holidays became packages from July 1 2018, as new Package Travel Regulations come into force.

The new measures will protect an extra ten million UK package holidays a year, the government estimated.

This will help save British holidaymakers tens of millions of pounds a year with strengthened rights for consumers and new protections.

Abta is reminding customers that the regulations apply to holidays booked on or after July 1 – those booked before then will be covered by previous rules.

Full information on the changes.

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