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In this issue:
 Get Safe Online have drawn up the most ‘Risky Christmas Gift
List’ to help prevent consumers falling victim to Christmas Cybercrimes this
year.
During Christmas 2013, mobile phones were the most
popular online purchase targeted by fraudsters trying to lure in victims.
This year the top five most risky items for
Christmas shoppers are:
- Mobile/smart phones – specifically iPhones and
Samsung Galaxys
- Games consoles – specifically PlayStation 4 and
Xbox One
- Footwear – specifically Ugg boots
- Clothing – specifically Barbour jackets
- iPads – and iPad minis
For
general information and advice on keeping safe online this Christmas visit Get Safe Online.
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 The Police have also issued advice to help online shoppers avoid being stung by scammers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday − the most popular web shopping days of the year as people stock up on festive bargains.
For details of their advice visit: www.west-midlands.police.uk.
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 Coventry
Trading Standards have seized 400 DVDs and over 50 packets of hand
rolling tobacco from a Chinese male who was visiting shops and offering them to
members of the public for sale in Gosford Green. However he may reappear anywhere in
the City as he managed to get away.
The DVDs were new titles still
available in cinemas at the moment and of extremely poor quality filmed on
camcorders in cinemas. The tobacco was counterfeit and tests carried out
previously on tobacco has shown it to contain sawdust, rat dropping and even
asbestos. Trading Standards are asking businesses and the public not to buy DVDs
and tobacco from sellers in the street.
If people spot someone selling in the
street we urge them to report it to the Citizens Advice consumer service on
03454 040506, who will pass details on to Trading Standards.
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Following a tip-off from
Coventry Building Society, a customer who came
into a branch with 8 letters saying they were a winner in several prize draws
and lotteries met up with Trading Standards.
We found that the resident
had received over a hundred letters from across the globe telling them that
they had won prize draws, had the winning ticket in a foreign lottery or were
eligible for endless good luck and fortune from various psychics and clairvoyants.
However, there was a catch
– all the letters mentioned that a fee or sensitive personal information such
as bank account numbers was needed first before any funds could be released.
In another recent case, we
removed over 800 letters from a resident’s property which they had received in
less than 5 months. When we looked at the bundle of mail we found that the
letter had come from at least eight different countries.
If any resident is
concerned that they may have responded to a scam, or are worried about a friend
or relative, please call the Citizens Advice consumer service on: 03454 040506.
A resident has reported receiving a call from a
person claiming to be from the City Council, conducting an opinion survey. The
caller was vague and when challenged hung up. The resident was suspicious
because the call reminded them of a previous caller who claimed he was from
Microsoft calling about viruses on their computer.
We have checked and Coventry City Council is not conducting any type of
telephone survey at this time.
We have had reports from
residents who have received calls from firms who offering upgrades to their
mobile phone contracts. Some residents believe that the call has come from their
current supplier but this is not always the case.
Our advice: if you
receive such a call before agreeing to anything check who the caller is and
make sure you know how long you have left on your current contract before
allowing a third-party to cancel and enter you into a new deal as there may be penalties
to pay for early termination.
It is also recommended
that consumers shop around online and in store to make comparisons before
committing to a further 12 to 24 months. There can in certain situations be a
14 day cancellation period which may apply, but this may be in exempt if the
agreement is made on shop premises face-to-face, or when the service is due to
start “immediately”.
Under the Telecommunications
Regulator, OFCOM - all communications providers offering services to
individuals must be members of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Scheme
of which they are two – CISAS and Ombudsman Services: Communications, where
complaints can be referred to in the event of a dispute.
Do not be pressured to
upgrade immediately without carrying out your own research, no matter how good
the deal sounds.
For
more information on scams, visit: www.coventry.gov.uk/scams
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