Trading Standards eCrime
A new, government-backed initiative has been developed to protect consumers and small businesses from the harm caused by the growing trade in fake goods on social media ‘buy-and-sell’ groups.
A man who operated websites which conned consumers out of £1.6m has been handed a one year suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay £200,000 within 28 days at Leeds Crown Court today.
The sentence comes after he pleaded guilty to breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 following a National Trading Standards investigation.
Don’t miss a trick, be Scam Aware
Scams Awareness Month 2018 launches on the 4th of June. The annual campaign raises awareness and takes a stand against the crimes and predatory practices which affect millions of people.
Research conducted by Citizens Advice indicates that almost three-quarters (72%) of those surveyed had been targeted by scammers over a two-year period (2015-2017). Over a third had been targeted five or more times.
Two more people have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in one of the biggest online conspiracy cases in UK legal history. Liam Hincks received 11 months in prison on Monday 26 March – which took into account his cooperation with the prosecution – and Caroline Gowans received a two year suspended prison sentence, on Tuesday 27 March.
Two more people have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in one of the biggest online conspiracy cases in UK legal history. Liam Hincks received 11 months in prison on Monday 26 March – which took into account his cooperation with the prosecution – and Caroline Gowans received a two year suspended prison sentence, on Tuesday 27 March.
Six people have today (6 March 2018) been sentenced to a total of more than 35 years in prison after being convicted of defrauding UK consumers out of over £37 million in one of the largest UK online crime cases. They operated a number of ‘copycat websites’, impersonating official government services to sell passports, driving licences and other key documents for vastly inflated prices.
Six people have today (6 March 2018) been sentenced to a total of more than 35 years in prison after being convicted of defrauding UK consumers out of over £37 million in one of the largest UK online crime cases. They operated a number of ‘copycat websites’, impersonating official government services to sell passports, driving licences and other key documents for vastly inflated prices.
- Defendant misled consumers by claiming to be from reputable computer firms
- Investigation in conjunction with computer firms helped secure conviction
- Defendant misled consumers by claiming to be from reputable computer firms
- Investigation in conjunction with computer firms helped secure conviction
- Man sentenced to five years and ten months for fraudulent business
A man who ran a large Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check fraud has been sentenced to five years and ten months at York Crown Court today (18th December). Marcus Ashcroft-Jones pleaded guilty to charges relating to websites set up by the defendant to process DBS checks for job seekers who had been told that they had been successful in their job applications. The reality was that the advertised jobs simply didn’t exist and the DBS checks were totally unnecessary.