Trading Standards eCrime
- Consumers called premium rate numbers thinking they were contacting well-known organisations directly
- Some consumers charged over £100 for one call
- Fine totalling £645,000 issued to DK Call for breaches of the Phone-paid Service Authority’s Code of Practice
- Refunds ordered to all consumers who seek one
- PSA advises consumers to take care when searching for customer service helplines online.
The conviction follows an investigation by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team
A man and his company who misled disabled people into paying £49 a time for Blue Badge parking permits was sentenced to financial penalties totalling £15,457.35 today (29 March 2017) at York Magistrates’ Court.
The Take Five campaign is urging consumers to protect themselves from financial fraud on a day of action supported by banks across the country. It comes in wake of figures released today, 16 March, by Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK), which saw £2 million a day lost to financial fraud in 2106.
The day marks the first-time major banks and key financial service providers have come together to raise awareness of how people can protect themselves, family and friends from fraud.
New scam prompts advice to help customers avoid becoming a victim of fraud
National Trading Standards is warning consumers about a new scam targeting those looking for help with printer problems. The warning comes after a rise in the number of cases seen by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team.
The ‘printer helpline scam’ differs from most scams as it sees consumers contacting the criminals directly, after seeing fake ‘helpline’ numbers in online adverts placed on search engines or social media.
New scam prompts advice to help customers avoid becoming a victim of fraud
National Trading Standards is warning consumers about a new scam targeting those looking for help with printer problems. The warning comes after a rise in the number of cases seen by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team.
The ‘printer helpline scam’ differs from most scams as it sees consumers contacting the criminals directly, after seeing fake ‘helpline’ numbers in online adverts placed on search engines or social media.
One victim reports dating fraud every three hours, according to the latest national figures from City of London Police
Read how to protect yourself against dating fraud – Story from Get Safe Online.
· On average, fraudsters ask their victims to transfer money within one month of first contact.
· Almost half (45%) of victims indicated that dating fraud had a ‘significant’ impact on their health or financial wellbeing
To mark Safer Internet Day 2017, young people across the UK are joining Government ministers, celebrities, industry figures, schools and police services to inspire people to ‘Be the Change’ and unite for a better internet today.
– Research by UK Safer Internet Centre highlights the positive and negative impact of online images and videos on young people
– The majority of children (84%) aged 8-17 have shared a photo online, with 1 in 6 doing so in the last hour
Action taken as part of fourth phase of Operation Jasper, the biggest enforcement operation ever seen in the UK to combat counterfeiting and piracy on social media
Operation Jasper 4, an initiative of the National Markets Group (NMG) saw 83 Trading Standards Authorities join forces with Police, government departments and industry brand representatives to identify and take action against criminals operating on Facebook and Instagram.
Action taken as part of fourth phase of Operation Jasper, the biggest enforcement operation ever seen in the UK to combat counterfeiting and piracy on social media
Operation Jasper 4, an initiative of the National Markets Group (NMG) saw 83 Trading Standards Authorities join forces with Police, government departments and industry brand representatives to identify and take action against criminals operating on Facebook and Instagram.
National Consumer Week (NCW) is an annual consumer education campaign run by the Consumer Protection Partnership (CPP). This year, NCW will be held November 28 to December 2, slightly later than in previous years.