Have you heard of 'vishing'? Let us give you the lowdown on this scam tactic used by fraudsters...

Vishing is when a criminal calls you pretending to be a trusted organisation to try and trick you into sharing your personal or financial information. They might leave a voicemail or even manipulate the caller ID to seem legit.

Follow our tips to keep yourself safe from this type of scam:

• If you answer a call out of the blue don’t give out any personal or financial information
• Only ever call your bank on a number you know to be correct
• Remember, you can say no to unwanted callers and hang up

We’ve been made aware that fraudsters are sending scam text messages about the Household Support Fund and Winter Fuel Payment. The messages claim to be from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and ask recipients to apply for payments using a malicious link.

If you receive one of these messages DO NOT click on the link. The message is not genuine, it’s a scam.

The DWP will NEVER contact you by text to apply for payments that are part of the Household Support Fund or Winter Fuel Payment.

Remember, if you receive a scam text message you can forward it to the National Cyber Security Service on 7726.

Please share this warning with friends, family, and neighbours – especially older or more vulnerable people who might be more at risk.

A recent investigation by Which? has shown that at least two thirds of cosmetics bought from online marketplaces may be fake. The consumer group bought big name beauty products such as Charlotte Tilbury, La Roche-Posay, Maybelline, The Ordinary and Mac from third party sellers on Amazon, eBay, Tiktok Shop and Vinted and many of these appeared to be fake.

Using counterfeit products can have very serious consequences. Fake cosmetics, perfumes and other beauty and hair products have previously been found to contain animal faeces and urine used as a stabiliser, as well as cancer-causing and toxic ingredients such as arsenic, lead and mercury. There are strict laws around the sale of cosmetic products, and they are there to keep consumers like you safe.

Our Trading Standards team has some put together some tips if you are buying cosmetics online:

• Only buy products from reputable sources. Make sure you know what you are buying and who you are buying from
• Always read the label - cosmetic products must be labelled with the name and address of the UK/EU Responsible Person (this can be the manufacturer, importer, distributor or an appointed person)
• Make sure the product has a full ingredients list
• Always follow the instructions provided and adhere to any precautions and warnings

If you have any concerns about the sale of cosmetic products you can report these to Trading Standards by calling the free Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.

Fraudsters are continuing to send scam texts relating to fake parking fines. The fraudulent messages claim that the recipient has been issued with a parking penalty notice (PCN) and this is their final warning to pay a £20 fine before legal action will be taken. The messages include a malicious link to follow to make the payment.

If you’re shopping for baby products or gifts for a child, it’s important to keep safety in mind:

• Choose products that are appropriate for your baby’s age and size
• Beware of items with small parts, such as magnets, beads, jewels, fur, and button batteries – these can pose choking hazards or cause serious internal burns if swallowed
• Ensure ribbons and cords on dummy clips and teethers are short and secure, as they can be a strangulation risk
• Be cautious when purchasing from online marketplaces or home sellers, as these products might not meet UK safety laws
• Always follow product instructions, check items regularly and discard them at the first sign of damage

Remember, it’s always better to be safe!

To report any unsafe baby products to Trading Standards please call Citizen Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133. You can also check if your product is part of a recall, just search ‘product recalls’ on Gov.uk.