1. www.hertsdirect.org Hertfordshire Trading Standards Scams Susie Helliwell Trading Standards Officer

2. www.hertsdirect.org Scams Scheming Crafty Aggressive Malicious A scam is designed to get you to part with your money

3. www.hertsdirect.org How? They succeed by catching you unawares by: Telephone Post Email Or in person

4. www.hertsdirect.org The four Ps Pleasant, Professional, Persistent, Persuasive. Letters and leaflets will look genuine and professional, people will be pleasant.

5. www.hertsdirect.org Common themes Money up front Bank or personal details Premium rate numbers (start with 090) Little contact information; PO Box May ask you not to tell anyone about the deal

6. www.hertsdirect.org Common scams Letters predicting the future Pyramid selling and gifting schemes Lotteries, sweepstakes and competitions Foreign money offers Work from home opportunities

7. www.hertsdirect.org Common scams Online dating Golden investment opportunities Miracle health cures / Beauty treatments Presentations and bogus holiday clubs Phishing for your identity

8. www.hertsdirect.org Over priced catalogues Come catalogues charge huge prices for goods such as biscuits or health products They offer prize draws to entice people to buy in the hope of winning Often the prize is just money off the next expensive order and there is no big prize waiting This can lead to a cycle of buying goods that many victims find hard to break

9. www.hertsdirect.org Charities Many consumers are target by minor / lesser known charities Some people feel obliged to donate even though they are giving already One consumer in Hertfordshire had been signed up to donate over £14,000 per year to various different causes

10. www.hertsdirect.org Charities Many charities use marketing companies to increase donations, these companies may sometimes use hard selling techniques to increase funds Only contribute to charities which you know about You can say no Make sure you can afford to live first

11. www.hertsdirect.org Legislation Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 Fraud Act 2006

12. www.hertsdirect.org What to do… STOP, THINK AND BE SCEPTICAL

13. www.hertsdirect.org Share If you discover a scam tell your friends and family If you want to report a scam, want advice or think that you may have been a victim of a scam contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06

14. www.hertsdirect.org Current cases Lady in her late 70s, living with her husband and showing signs of dementia. Receives several letters a day. She is convinced that she is working for the company. Lady in her early 80s, living alone and was too ashamed to tell her family. Believed that she had won a prize.

15. www.hertsdirect.org Current cases A gentleman in Stevenage had replied to so many scams that he had to be provided with a food voucher from the food bank Another gentleman in Stevenage had been befriended by scammers over the internet and had been sending amounts of money to Ghana and the Philippines to people he believes are “friends in need”

16. www.hertsdirect.org Protect each other What to look out for: Piles of letters – to receive 20 lottery type scams a week is quite common Reluctance to admit to replying to them, often embarrassed May think that they are working for the company Regular payments of £20 / £30 to £1000’s

17. www.hertsdirect.org Protect yourself Mailings To reduce unwanted mail contact the Mailing Preference Service call 0845 703 4599. If in doubt, throw it away.

18. www.hertsdirect.org Telephone calls To reduce unwanted sales calls contact the Telephone Preference Service 0845 070 0707 Number block service Call barring If in doubt, hang up

19. www.hertsdirect.org Email Use anti-virus software and a firewall. Keep them up to date. Don’t email personal or financial information Be cautious opening any attachment or downloading files from emails If in doubt, don’t reply

20. www.hertsdirect.org Remember IF IT LOOKS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS!

21. www.hertsdirect.org Any Questions?

22. www.hertsdirect.org thank you