Beware the 12 Scams of Christmas

Stockport residents are being urged not to fall foul of the’12 scams of Christmas.’

The advice, which applies to all situations where someone is trying to part you from your money, is:

• Don’t give bank or personal details to anyone over the phone or on the internet unless you are sure you know who you are dealing with; 
• Think about whether you want the goods or services offered and if you do, where do you want to buy them;
• There is no purchase so urgent that it can’t wait a couple of days while you make some enquiries;
• Shop around to compare prices and check with family, friends or professional organisations for recommendations or warnings;
• Make sure you know who you are dealing with and how to contact them if things go wrong.

Stockport Councillor Kevin Hogg, Executive Member for the Public Realm, said:

“Trading Standards advise people what to do if they come across a scam, and where to obtain more information. The key message to remember is that you are in charge, there are simple steps you can take to guard against scams and if you think you’ve spotted a scam, report it immediately.”

The 12 scams are:

Farmed puppies:
So-called ‘puppy farms’ in the UK and abroad are another form of battery farming. Unscrupulous people sell farmed puppies that are too young and are very sick, and, sadly, many have died. To avoid funding this cruel trade never buy a puppy unless you have seen it with its mother.

High street and on-line shopping:
Check a shop’s policy on refunds for gifts and keep receipts. Before buying from a website you haven’t used before check forums for feedback, look for a UK contact address, and be wary of buying branded goods such as hair straighteners, boots and jewellery from a seller that’s not an approved stockist.

Card fraud:
Criminals use ‘security checks’ to get your personal details by phoning pretending to be from your bank. They claim there is fraudulent activity on your card, ask you to confirm the security number on the back to prove it’s in your possession, and ‘reassure’ you they will reverse any fraudulent purchases. Do not give details to any callers, no matter how convincing they seem. If you have concerns, contact your bank using the phone number on your bank statement.

Fake official calls and messages:
Beware of ‘phishing’ emails and calls. One of latest fake messages claims to be from West Yorkshire Police. They are getting more sophisticated and often direct customers to convincing fake websites before asking for personal details. There are reports of scammers phoning people and claiming there’s a serious fault with their computer which can be fixed for a fee, or by logging onto a fake website.

Pension fraud:
Firms offer to ‘unlock’ your work pension so you can have access to the money now, but there is a very high price to pay in fees and tax penalties. Trading Standards advise what the pitfalls are and where to get more information.

Council Tax re-banding:
Companies say they can re-band your property for an upfront fee. A firm was recently closed down for misleading the public, taking fees from hundreds of people and failing to give promised refunds. Householders can check their Council Tax band themselves and challenge the banding for free.

Fake utility calls:
Fraudsters phone householders pretending to be their gas or electricity supplier and telling them a refund is due. They are very convincing and ask for your bank details to commit fraud and identity theft. Fake ‘pre-payment’ cards are also used by fraudsters.

Romance scams and presents/money:
Convincing fraudsters now send YOU gifts rather than ask for money. People are tricked using a tangled web of plausible stories and even fake websites for a courier firm they say is going to deliver your gift.

Prize draws and foreign lotteries:
This sinister crime targets more vulnerable local residents. Some people send hundreds of pounds a year trying to claim prizes, usually to overseas-based fraudsters. Trading Standards provides advice on how to spot if your relatives or friends are being targeted.

Fake offers of gift cards, ‘free’ trials of vitamins, and beauty creams:
Emails and pop-up adverts pretend to be from supermarkets offering you a gift card as a reward – all you have to do is follow the link and give your personal details. The messages are not genuine. ‘Free trials’ are often impossible to cancel and are very costly, no matter what they promise.

Loan fraudsters and loan sharks: Fraudulent companies offer loans but you have to pay a fee upfront which is sent by cash transfer, making it impossible to trace when the loan doesn’t materialise. Trading Standards advise how people can report ‘loan sharks’ (illegal money lenders) in complete confidence and explains the work of the Illegal Money Lending Team.

Fake ticket websites: Fraudulent ticket sales are still a problem. Trading Standards explain what steps to take to avoid the scams, how to get assistance from your credit card provider if things go wrong and how to report fraudsters as soon as you get suspicious.

The scams are part of a Christmas safety initiative which aims to inform Stockport residents of ways they can protect themselves and their property over the festive season. It aims to continue the eight year trend of crime reduction in Stockport by promoting messages which will help residents protect themselves and their property from crime.

Stay in Stockport for extra sparkle this Christmas. For more information on free parking, fantastic shopping, magical events and festive markets visit www.stockport.gov.uk/christmas. Join the conversation on Twitter using #SKChristmas.