Consumer Alerts – October 2024
Scam claiming a government initiative
Beware cold callers in the Morecambe area claiming to be from a government initiative green energy company offering energy solutions for your roof. They took nearly £10,000 off a householder to clean the roof and gutters and spray a substance on the roof.
A few weeks later a woman came round saying the job done by the two men was not right and she could get it fixed for another £4000, however the householder realised that they had already been scammed and fortunately refused the second attempt.
Beware roofing cold callers
A Thornton Cleveleys resident received a knock on their door from a trader claiming to be working down the road and had noticed an issue with the householder’s roof and gutters. The traders arrived in a car with ladders on the roof. The householder felt pressured into agreeing to the work and making payment. The roof is now leaking.
Claiming to be doing work locally is a common ruse used by cold callers offering property repairs, aimed at trying to falsely reassure the householder.
Trading Standards advice is to always say no to cold callers. The Safetrader scheme can help you find a trader in your area, contact 0303 333 1111 or go to www.safetrader.org.uk.
Pension review scams
If you receive a telephone call out of the blue offering a free pension review, use caution. Beware of claims that they are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority when this may not be the case. Free pension reviews can be designed to persuade you to move money from your pension pot into high-risk schemes. Your pension pot is then invested in unusual investments such as overseas property, forestry, storage units, care homes or biofuels. You may be promised guaranteed returns or cash from your pension to tempt you to take up these offers. These schemes are often long-term investments, and it may be several years before you realise something is wrong.
Remember professional advice on pensions is not free. You can find out more about getting financial advice from www.moneyhelper.org.uk .
Scam parking fine text
Beware receiving a text claiming to be from the DVSA (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency) stating you have a parking fine or an unpaid parking fine. The text may threaten a driving ban, higher fees, or court action if immediate payment is not made. In some cases, the text asks you to click on a link which then requires you to input your vehicle registration number on a copycat government website.
Be suspicious, the DVSA do not issue or deal with parking fines.
Scam texts can be reported, for free, to the National Cyber Security Centre by forwarding it to 7726.
Contact the Trading Standards Service via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.
For information on current scams see www.facebook.com/StanleyDards/.