PRESENTATIONTOLAMBETHAGEUK–21STFEBRUARY2018

ChrisArmstrongandIanHillierfromtheCharteredTradingStandardsInstituteandLambethTradingStandards

Scammersandexamplesoftheirpractices–CounterfeitgoodsandmoreSCAMSAsHomeSafetyAmbassadorsweneedtopassonmessagestoresidentsaboutthemanyinstanceswhereroguetradersseektotakeadvantageofanyonewhoisunawareorvulnerable.

• Facetofaceinthestreet–ResearchersandsomeCharityworkersoftenmakeanapproachwhilstyouareoutinshoppingareas.Myadvicewouldbetorefusetoenterintoconversations–unlessyouwishtoandfeelsafeandideallyhavesomeoneelsewithyou.Nevergiveyourhomecontactdetailsorbankinginformation.Ifyouwishtodonatetoacharitytherearemoresecurewaystodothis

• Onyourdoorstep–beverywaryofalluninvitedcallers–neveropenyourdoorwithoutaskingthecallertoidentifythemselvesfirstoronlyasfarasadoorchainwillallow.EveniftheyhaveanIDandarewearingauniformsuchasGasBoard,WaterBoard,LocalCouncil,etc–disbelieveeveryonetillproven–beforeyoulettheminlookupthephonenumberofthecompanyorutilityandphoneitbeforeyouletthemin.Don’tjustphoneanumberontheirIDasthatwillprobablyfakeaswell.

o Thereareanumberoforganisationsthatgivelistsofapprovedtradersthatclientscancontacttoensuretheygetagooddealandreliableservice.Theseinclude

o AgeUKrecommendedhandymanserviceso TrustedTraderSchemethroughWhich?o RatedPeople.como Checkatrade.como Otherlocalschemesviayourlocaltradingstandardswebsiteswww.tradinstandards.uk

Oneofthebestwaystofindagoodhandypersonisstilltheoldestandbest-thatisbypersonalrecommendationfromafriendorneighbour

• Getadoorchain-displayastickertellingcallersyouneverbuygoodsfromacoldcallersorwillneveragreetohaveworkdoneonyourpropertyandyouwillcallthePoliceiftheypersist.Pre-printednoticesareavailablefromLocalCouncilsandsomeCharitableorganisationsorcanbefoundontheinternet.HereisalinktothemoneysavingexpertwebsitetoprintoffafreeA4sign

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/no-more-junk#freesign

• ColdCallingControlZones–talktoyourlocalauthorityandfindoutaboutcreatingsuchareasinyourlocality.Individualstreetsorblocksofflatsetccanhavesignageerectedtowarnpossiblecoldcallerstheyarenotwelcome.TherearesomeinLambethseethislink–clickonsection2toseewheretheyareandhowtosetothersuphttps://www.lambeth.gov.uk/business-services-rates-and-licensing/food-safety/trading-standards-guide

• Tellresidentsnottobeworriedaboutphoning101toreportallincidentsoreven999iftheyfeelthreatened.Adviseresidentstotellrelativesandneighboursaboutanysuchvisits.

• Distractionburglary–warnresidentsaboutunwantedcallers–explainthemethodofoperationofthesepeopleofthesepeople–iftwopeoplecoldcall,neverletthembothinatonceasoneislikelytokeepyouchattingwhilsttheotherwillwanderroundyourhomestealinganythingvaluable

• ScamMailo WhilstvisitinglookoutforpilesofletterssayingtheresidenthaswonaprizeORoffering

largesumsofmoneytousetheirbankaccountformoneytransfersORarelativeisintroubleabroad.

o Theseshouldbeignoredanddisposedofintherecyclebinasitisunlikelythatanyofferwillbegenuine

Iftheletterhasthesendersaddresson(usuallyonthebackoftheenvelope)Suggesttheyputthemailbackinthepostboxunstampedandmarked–UNSOLICITEDMAILRETURNTOSENDERThesenderwillthenhavetopaythereturnpostagewhichmaypromptthemtoremovecontactdetailsfromtheirmailinglists.IfyouwanttoreportapotentialpostalscamyoucancontactRoyalMailatFreepostScamMail,Orbyphoneon03456113413oremail:scam.mail@royalmail.comPleasealsoreportinstancestoyourlocalTradingStandardsviatheCitizensAdviceServicehotline03454040506MailPreferenceServiceIfyouarehavingaproblemwiththeoverallamountofjunkmailthat'saddressedtoyou,itmighthelptoregisteryournameandaddressforfreewiththeMailingPreferenceService(MPS)on-lineortryphoning0207 291 3310Thisisafreeservicesetupbythedirectmarketingindustrytohelppeoplewhodon'twanttoreceivejunkmail.ItsgoodpracticefororganisationstochecktheMPSlistbeforesendingmarketingmaterialoutbutitisnotalegalrequirementthattheydoso.

Door-to-dooroptout

Youcanreducetheamountof'unaddressed’mailyoureceivebyregisteringwiththeRoyalMail'sdoor-to-dooropt-outservice.However,thiswillnotstopmailaddressedto'theoccupier'.Tooptoutofdoor-to-doormail,writetotheaddressbelowrequestingyournameandaddressbeaddedtothedoor-to-dooroptoutscheme.FreepostRRBT-2BXB-TTTS,RoyalMailDoortoDoorOptOuts,KingsmeadHouse,OxpensRoad,Oxford,OX11RX

NuisancephonecallsonlandlinesIfaresidenthasaproblemthereareappliancesthatcanfilteranddismissunwantedcallsthesearen’tfreebutcanpreventagreatdealofworryforanyonereceivinglotsofcallslookonlineoraskyourlocalAgeUKcontactstogiveinformation.Someofthesehaveprovedveryeffectiveinlimitingtheworstcasesofnuisancecalls

o alsotryBTcallbarringo registerwithTelephonePreferenceServiceTPSbyphoneon0345 070 0707orbythe

internetwww.tpsonline.org.uk NuisancecallandTextmessagesonmobiles-ifresidentsarehavingsuchcontacts,numbersonmobilescanbeblockedonthephoneitselfNuisanceEmail–askiftheyaretroubledbybegginglettersetcmostcomputershaveajunkmailoptionSocialmedia–Facebook,Twitter,etc–reportanyincidentstothecontrollingbody

NationalTradingStandards–ScamsTeam

ThenationalteamareaskinghundredspeopletoregisterasSCAMbassadors.Pleasefollowthelinkandregisteryourname:-

https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/article.php?xArt=39

TheNationalTradingStandardswebsitehaslotsofusefulinformationandisat:-http://www.nationaltradingstandards.uk/

ThinkJessicaCampaign

OneofthehardesthittingcasesofanelderlywomanbeinghoundeduntilshediedistoldonthisChariteswebsite.Itcontainsamassiveamountofinformationandadviceforpeoplecaughtinthewebaswellastheircarers,friendsandfamilieshttp://www.thinkjessica.com/

PRODUCTSAFETY-PRODUCTRECALLSForthelatestproductrecallinformationpleasefollowthislinktotheTradingStandardsInstitutewebsite:www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

Thewebsitelistsahugerangeofrecalledgoodsincludingfood,householdappliances,clothingandtoys.ThereisalsoalinktotheEuropeanProductrecallsitecalledRAPEXthislistsmanymoreitems.ThereisalsoalinktotheDriverandVehicleStandardsAgencywhereanyonecansearchforrecallsofmotorvehiclesbutbewarnedthereare100’softhese.

ElectricalproductsrecallscanbeseenontheElectricalSafetyFirstwebsitehttps://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/

TheGovernmenthaverecentlyagreedtoputupto£12millionintosettingupthenewOfficeofProductSafetyandStandards–mighthavebeenbettergivingittoTradingStandardstomakeupforallthecutstheyhavesufferedalready!!

COUNTERFEITGOODSThereisanincreasingvolumeoflook-a-likegoodsfloodingourmarketplace,notjustinshopsandmarketstallsbutalsoonline.Thesearemainlyimportsandaresosimilarinlookstotherealthingthat

peopleareeasilyfooled.These‘hooky’goodsareoftenreferredtoinalightheartedwayusingreferencesto‘DelBoy’etc.Don’ttouchthemwithabargepole!AdvisepeopletoshopatrecognisedandestablishedHighStreetshopsandmarketstallsandmakesuretheyusetheofficialsitesontheinternet.Itisquiteeasytolookatsitesthatusethenameofagenuinetraderbutareoftenatotallyfictitioussiteoranagentwhomaychargeyouforconnectingwiththerealsite.Thelatterisquitecommonforthingslikeon-linetaxreturnsorotherGovernmentsiteswhoactuallyprovidefreeservices.Theoldsayingthatifit‘lookstoogoodtobetrue-itis’isstillthebestguidetorememberwhenlookingatbargains.AnydodgygoodsorpracticesshouldbereportedtotradingStandardsthroughtheCitizensAdvicecontactline03454040506

SellingCounterfeitgoodsisfraud

Counterfeitgoodsregularlyincludeamassiverangeofgoods.Designerclothes,bags,accessoriesandperfumesaswellaspirateDVDs,CDs,computergamesaswellasMedicinesandcarparts.Itseemsthatnothingescapesthefakers.

Manycounterfeitgoodsaresoldatcarbootsales,inpubsbyitineranttraders,marketsorfairs.Thismakesitdifficulttotracethefraudsteronceyou’veboughtfromthem.

Fakegoodsarealsosoldonline,althoughauctionsitessuchaseBay.Thesecompaniesaredoingtheirbesttoclampdownoncounterfeitingandpiracy.

Areyouavictimofcounterfeitgoodsfraud?

You’veboughtanitemanddiscoveredthatitisnotoriginalormadebythebranditclaimstobemadeby.Thequalitymightwellbeinferior,whichmightmaketheproductunusableorunsafe.

Whatshouldyoudoifyou’vebeenavictimofcounterfeitgoodsfraud?

Ifyouthinkyouhavebeensoldcounterfeitgoods,orifyoususpectsomebodyissellingfakegoods,contactCitizensAdviceandTradingStandardson03454040506foradvice.

Yourstatutoryrightsapplyifthegoodsyoubuyaren’tsatisfactoryqualityoraredifferentfromtheseller’sdescription.So,ifyoubuygoodsthatarenotasdescribed,youshouldbeentitledtoarefundoranexchangefortherealgoods.Theprobleminsomecasesiswillyoubeabletofindtheseller??

Whyshouldyouavoidcounterfeitgoods?

• You’rehelpingthetradertobreakthelawandmanyfraudstersusetheproceedsfromsellingcounterfeitgoodstofunddrugdealingorothertypesoforganisedcrime.

• Buyingfakegoodscontributestojoblossesbecausegenuinemanufacturersareunabletomatchpriceschargedbyroguetraders.You’realsodeprivingthegenuinemanufacturersofanyprofit.

• Somecounterfeitgoodsmaybesubstandard,possiblydangerousandmayevencontainhazardoussubstances.

Protectyourselfagainstcounterfeitgoodsfraud

• Ifsomethingseemstoogoodtobetrue,egaRolexwatchbeingsoldfor£10,itprobablyis.Don’tbefooledintothinkingyou’regettingagreatdeal.

• Alwaysexaminethequalityofanygoodsyou’rethinkingofbuyingandcheckthelabelstoseeiftheyaregenuine.It’softenveryeasytospotafakeastheirlabelsmayhavespellingmistakesorotherdistinguishingmarks.

• Alwaysaskthetraderyou’rebuyingfromwhethertheyofferanafter-salesservice,oraguarantee.Mostroguetraderswon’t.

• Alwaysgetaproperreceiptwithdetailsofcontactinformationfromtheseller

Iffraudhasbeencommitted,reportittoTradingStandards03454040506

Twoespeciallydangerousareasofcounterfeitsare:-CounterfeitCigarettesTobaccoandBoozeIllegaltobaccocanbefakeproducts,smuggledgenuineproducts,orbrandsspecificallymadefortheillegaltobaccomarket.

Thetradeinillicittobaccoandalcoholhasseriousconsequencesforhealth,crimeandcommunitycohesion.

Theyaresoldcheaperthanlegitimateproductsbutthispracticeisnotavictimlesscrime.

ThetradeinillicittobaccoandalcoholisapriorityforTradingStandardsas:

• Illicittobaccocausesfourtimesasmanydeathsasillicitdrugsbecauseitdiscouragessmokersfromquittingandencouragesthemtosmokemore

• Counterfeitalcoholcanbedangerousassomecounterfeitproducts-suchasvodkas-aremadefromindustrialalcoholandmethanolwithoutanycontroloverwhatisgoingintothem

• Lowerpricingandlackofresponsibilitybysellersmakesiteasierforchildrentosmokeanddrinkalcohol

• Itislinkedtolowlevelandlargescaleorganisedcrime,nationallyandinternationally• Itgoeshandinhandwithdrugsandalcohol,childexploitation,moneylaunderingandeven

terrorism• Ittargetspooranddisadvantagedcommunities• bringsorganisedcrimeintocommunities• encourageschildrentostartsmoking• preventsadultsmokersfromgivingup.

Suppliersofillegaltobaccoandalcoholareoftenlinkedtodrugdealing,peopletraffickingandeventerrorism.Don’tletillegaltobaccoorboozeintoyourcommunity.

Ifyouknowanyonesellingcounterfeitversionsoftheseproductsyouwillprobablyalsoknowthepeoplewhobuythemaswell.

Typesofproductsonsale

• Illicit(dutyfree)–foreignproductsbroughtintotheUKinillegalquantitiesandresoldintheUK• Counterfeit–fakepackagingoftenmadetolooklikepremiumbrands.Counterfeitproducts

containcheap/lowqualitytobaccoorindustrialalcoholoftencontainingharmfulsubstancesandcontaminants

TradingstandardsprioritisesitsworktotacklethetraderinillicittobaccoandalcoholandworkregularlywithHMRevenueandCustoms,Policeandotherpartnerstotacklethistrade.

IfyouwanttoreportthesaleofcounterfeitorillicittobaccoorboozepleasecontactCitizensAdviceConsumerServiceon03454040506.Theywilltakeyourreportandalerttradingstandards.

HowcanAmbassadorshelptoprotectclients?

• Allhomevisitorsneedtobeanextrapairofeyesandearsforsignsofconcernbytalkingtoclients

• Family,friendsandneighbourscanoftenbeingenlistedtobeawareaswell• Moreadvicehandoutstobedistributedwhereavailable

Wherecanwealllookforhelp?Mostisnowonlinesonotalwaysdirectlyavailabletoolderpeople

• LocalAgeUKgroups• CTSIwebsite• LocalTradingStandardsServicese.g.Lambeth• CitizensAdviceServices• Police• Fireservices

Version03.03.18