ScamsTrading Standards Sticker Pack

Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards Service is committed to helping residents protect themselves from scams. This leaflet deals with various scams by mail, telephone and computer cyber crime, some of which are targeted against the elderly and more vulnerable.

Why are scams a big problem? A scam is an illicit attempt to con you out of your money. It is estimated that in the United Kingdom billions of pounds are lost each year to scams with only one in five cases being reported. The scammers often exploit the most vulnerable in our society and are only interested in taking your cash.

Post and phone scams – be alert Look out for the warning signs and avoid being a victim.

• Do you receive lots of mail promising large cash prizes?

• Do you receive catalogues offering products for sale and promising you a cash prize if you place an order?

• Do you receive frequent phone calls from strangers offering goods or services?

• Do you get through cheque books very quickly?

• Do you receive letters from clairvoyants or psychics threatening bad luck or promising good fortune?

• Do you receive a lot of letters from the USA, Netherlands, Australia or Hong Kong?

If you have answered yes to some of these then please call us on 03454 04 05 06 for advice.

What is in this pack?

One cheque book sticker Peel away this sticker and place it in a prominent place on your cheque book so you can see it every time you write a cheque.

One phone sticker Place this sticker on the handset of your telephone to remind you not to talk to people who call you that you don’t know.

One computer sticker. Put this on the side of your monitor to remind you not to click on a link without thinking first.

Reduce the number of unwanted phone calls It is possible to reduce the number of unwanted phone calls that you receive by registering with the Telephone Preference Service which is completely free of charge.

You do this by calling 0345 070 0707 or by going to the website at www.tpsonline.org.uk

Reduce the number of scam letters It is possible to reduce the number of scam letters that you receive by registering with the Mailing Preference Service which is also free of charge.

You can do this by going to the website www.mpsonline.org.uk

If you need some help to register with either service, ask a family member, a friend or a friendly neighbour.

Registration will not stop all unwanted telephone calls and mail but it will help to reduce the volumes that you may be receiving.

Crime Online More than ever fraudsters are hiding behind the anonymity of the internet to carry out a variety of scams on the web and via email. This is increasing on a daily basis and costing consumers billions of pounds!

Top Tips• Who is your email from? If you’re suspicious

of a link within an email, hover over it with your mouse (don’t click) and you’ll be able to see the real URL.

• Buying online? Check the page when you go to pay. It should show a padlock symbol to show a secure connection. The lock icon is not just a picture! Click (or double- click) on it to see details of the site’s security. This is important to know because some fraudulent web sites are built with a bar at the bottom of the web page to imitate the lock icon of your browser!

• S means secure. http will change to https showing you’ve moved to a secure connection.

Jessica’s story For five years, Jessica was hounded by criminals who worked in organised gangs. They contacted her by post and phone.

Right at the start, Jessica was initially promised that she had won a competition and she had to send off a fee to claim the prize. After sending off the fee, the prize didn’t arrive but the scammer then circulated her name and address to other scammers all over the world – and more and more scam mail then arrived. For the rest of Jessica’s story please see the charity Think Jessica at www.thinkjessica.com

• Use the GOV.uk website when enquiring about official documents such as driving licence or a European health card. Many services are free or cheaper than when you simply search the internet as there are fake sites.

ALERT! The police, Trading Standards and your bank will NEVER call, visit or email to ask for money or your financial details.

Inside this leafl et are stickers for your cheque book, phone handset and computer.

More information can be found online at www.tradingstandardsecrime.org.uk

You can sign up to our regular newsletter that highlights current scams and product recalls by going to http://scc.newsweaver.co.uk/trading-standards and clicking ‘subscribe’

Contact usFor advice call 03454 04 05 06

If you would like another pack please call 0300 123 2329

@Bucks_SurreyTS

facebook/com /BucksSurreyTS

02.16.CS

3216.