Advice from Trading Standards

Published: 25 April 2024

Our main advice is to never give out any personal details & banking information over the phone & please do not click on website links in unsolicited emails and text messages. Also please do not deal at the doorstep, ask cold callers to please leave and not to come back. Cold calling traders can be reported to us, via the Consumer Helpline on freephone 0808 223 1133. 

If you are a victim of a scam and you have paid via credit/debit cards, online banking, bank transfer or cheques, then your first step should be to contact your bank, building society or credit card company. Report scams and suspected scams to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Action Fraud is the national fraud & cyber-crime reporting centre. https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ Obtain advice from the Consumer Helpline & also report the matter to Trading Standards on Freephone 0808 223 1133. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/

With regards to approved trader schemes, there are a couple that we would direct residents to. Firstly, Buy with Confidence: https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/ where you will find Trading Standards approved traders. Which? the consumer body also have their own scheme: https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/

Visit The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) for further advice on how to stay safe online: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/home This includes information on how to create a strong password & setting up 2-step verification. You can also report a suspicious website to the NCSC: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-this-website/report-scam-website

Scams texts can be forwarded to your provider on the number 7726 - This enables your provider to investigate the origin of the text and to take the appropriate action.

Please forward scam emails to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS): report@phishing.gov.uk

If you are looking to invest, please do your research and look on the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) website for advice & information: https://www.fca.org.uk

To try to stop receiving unsolicited phone calls, you can register your phone number with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) which is a free service: Call 0345 070 0707 or online: www.tpsonline.org.uk You can register mobile phone numbers as well, but this won’t stop scam text messages. To try to stop unsolicited mail, you can register with the Mailing Preference Service (MPS) - https://www.mpsonline.org.uk/