We have become "A Watchdog" for Staffordshire Trading Standards.
If you have any concerns or queries or want to report "A Rogue Trader",
then please email me (Eric) on info@loggerheads.eu and I will pass the information on.

COUNTERFEIT VODKA

Staffordshire Trading Standards Officers are warning people to be on their guard after reports have been received stating that counterfeit Glen’s Vodka is still in circulation.

The 70cl bottles of vodka are copies of Glen’s Vodka and are reported to contain higher levels of methanol than normally found in authentic Glen’s Vodka. The Food Standards Agency are advising people not to drink it.

If you are purchasing Glen’s Vodka and are unsure whether it is genuine or counterfeit, 70cl bottles of genuine Glen’s Vodka can be easily identified. The genuine bottles are marked on the base with the logo ‘AGC’ which confirms they were supplied by Allied Glass Containers. The back of the label will also have a distinctive glue pattern – horizontal lines approximately 2mm apart.

The counterfeit vodka has so far been identified as having either the codes SE607 700ml 66mm, 8509 700ml 66mm or 7828 700ml 66mm embossed somewhere on the bottle. The labels also appear to be self adhesive as there is no glue pattern.

If you come across any of this counterfeit vodka, or have reason to believe someone is selling this, please contact your local Trading Standards Office.

BOGUS HOLIDAY CLUB SCAMS

The Office of Fair trading is warning holidaymakers flying abroad during the summer about the dangers of bogus holiday club scams, which cost UK residents millions of pounds each year.

Research shows that the summer is peak time for holidaymakers to be targeted by bogus holiday clubs, and the average victim can lose up to £3000.

Most touts working for bogus holiday clubs hand out scratch cards to unsuspecting holidaymakers which claims they have won a prize, when in fact all of the scratch cards are winners. To collect the prize they are forced to attend a lengthy presentation where they will be persuaded into signing a contract for an ‘exclusive club’. The information contained in the contract regarding price, range and quality of holidays is usually false and after spending thousands of pounds, people often discover they have purchased little more than access to an internet booking service – the same service you would receive if you visited your local travel agent.

Holidaymakers who are approached by scratch card touts, or who attend a presentation should ask the following three questions:

• Can you take the contract away to consider at your own leisure?
• Is everything promised in the presentation in the contract?
• Do you know exactly what you are getting for your money?

FLAT SCREEN TV SCAM

Trading Standards Officers in Staffordshire are asking residents to be on their guard if purchasing electrical goods from car boot sales and one day markets.

A local resident recently purchased what they believed to be a flat screen television from a car boot sale. The television was bubble wrapped and so unable to be inspected. Once home, the television turned out to be a flat screen computer monitor and not a television.

If intending to purchase goods such as this from car boot sales always ensure they are checked thoroughly before handing over any money, and also be aware that such goods may not be covered by a manufacturers warranty.

If you think you may have come into contact with these rogue traders, please contact your local Trading Standards Office.

WATER INDUSTRY TO FIGHT BOGUS CALLERS

Water companies are joining forces with police and Government to raise national awareness of callous tricksters who prey on the elderly and vulnerable.

More than half of bogus caller crimes committed in the UK are carried out by criminals pretending to be from a water company.

Water companies across the UK are now increasing efforts to tackle bogus caller crime by launching a nationwide campaign.

Statistics show that around 35 bogus caller crimes are committed everyday, however this may only be ten per cent of the actual number as this type of crime often leads victims too embarrassed to come forward.

The national campaign is supported by the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers, Water UK and the Consumer Council for Water, and it aims to raise awareness nationally and among all age groups to help tackle this kind of crime.

If you feel that you may have been a victim of distraction burglary, or to report possible bogus officials in your area, please contact your local Trading Standards Office.

MasterCard Securecode Email Warning

Staffordshire Community Services are warning Internet users to be wary of a phishing email currently in circulation purporting to originate from MasterCard.

Unlike typical phishing emails that ask users to confirm details for security or maintenance purposes, the latest ones attempt to lure users to sign up to MasterCard’s ‘Securecode’ service to receive increased security for their accounts, together with the promise of discounts on future card purchases.

A link contained within the email redirects recipients to a spoof MasterCard site where they are asked to supply confidential information including card expiration date, date of birth and the card’s three digit CVV signature strip security code.

Officers are concerned that the offer of increased card security coupled with discounts of up to 16% on future card purchases will be enough to dupe many unsuspecting recipients.

As usual, officers advise all email users to remain vigilant and to delete such suspicious emails immediately. On no account should they click on any embedded web links or open any attachments. If users have any doubts about the validity of certain offers they should check directly with the website of the organisation that the email purports to originate from.

Officers advise Internet users to ensure that their PCs are running up-to-date antivirus, antispyware and firewall software, all of which are available free of charge for personal use, and that their operating system security patches are up to date. They also advise turning off any ‘auto-preview’ features in their email software, and encourage all email users to observe their tips for avoiding spam emails (Avoiding Spam).

If you have any concerns regarding the above please contact Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506.

PSYCHIC HEALER SCAM
Beware – the ‘world famous psychic healer’ could steal your identity.

Staffordshire County Council is advising residents to ignore a ‘clairvoyant’ postal scam with religious overtones.

The letter, received by residents across the County, claims the writer has a special bond with the recipient, and looks like a very personal approach to the individual. However, many such letters have been sent out and replying could mean you are bombarded with further scams, as you may be seen as an easy target who is likely to respond.

Officers are warning residents that the information requested in the letter has the potential to be misused. Asking for details such as birth dates, place of birth and pet names and requesting the reply in ‘in your own handwriting’ could enable a fraudster to use the person’s identity. While the initial letter does not ask for money, it is likely that subsequent letters would.

Please ignore any such mailings. If you are unsure about whether to respond to an item of mail contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

Money Laundering Email Warning

Staffordshire Community Services are warning Internet users to be wary of an email currently in circulation offering recipients the opportunity to participate in what appears to be a money-laundering operation.

A Staffordshire resident received an email purporting to come from career website Monster.com. The email offered the opportunity to earn £18,000 per year by receiving bank transfers and then making payments to one of their “regional affiliated departments”. The email went on to explain that the job involved physically visiting bank branches to withdraw and send money.

Enquiries have revealed that this activity is likely to amount to money laundering. It will likely involve illegal activity on the part of the participant and also put the security of their own bank funds at risk. More information may be found here: Further Info.

Officers are uncertain as to whether the resident was targeted as a consequence of data thefts from Monster.com in 2007 (Further Info) or as a consequence of a wider spam email campaign.

Either way, officers advise all email users to remain vigilant and to delete such suspicious emails immediately. On no account should they click on any embedded web links or open any attachments. If users have any doubts about the validity of certain offers they should check directly with the website that the email purports to originate from.

Officers advise Internet users to ensure that their PCs are running up-to-date antivirus, antispyware and firewall software, all of which is available free of charge for personal use. They also advise turning off any ‘auto-preview’ features in their email software, and encourage all email users to observe their tips for avoiding spam emails (Avoiding Spam).

If you have any concerns regarding the above please contact Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506.

BOGUS ADVERTISING

Staffordshire Trading Standards Officers have recently been made aware of a bogus advertising company targeting sub-contractors in the construction and property industries.

Building Site Managers and Surveyors are being approached by the advertising company and being asked to supply the contact information of sub-contractors working on behalf of the main building contractors or property developers. The advertising company is claiming this information is required by local authorities, or a client, for a future publication. This information has then been used to sell unsolicited ‘support’ advertising to sub-contractors highlighting the work of the main contractor.

Many of the advertisements sold are for publications with no readership or distribution and are produced solely for the purpose of the advertisers.

If you are approached to take out any ‘support’ advertising you are advised to verify with the main contractor that they have authorised this advertisement to go ahead. Do not sign any contracts or terms of conditions and do not take any statements made by the advertising company for granted until you have verified authorisation with the main contractor.

If you have any concerns regarding the above please contact Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506

Hoax MSN email warning
Staffordshire Community Services are warning Internet users to be wary of an email currently in circulation purporting to originate from the directors of MSN.

The email warns that MSN is closing its service due to a shortage of usernames. It warns users that their accounts will close unless they forward the said email to all of the persons listed within their address book. Those users failing to do so face a £10 monthly fee for continued service use.

Officers can confirm that the said email is a hoax.

Using scare tactics to help propagate email-based scams is a popular ploy used by spammers, and any email that asks it recipients to forward it to others should be treated with caution, as it is usually the hallmark of a scam or hoax. Doing so simply multiplies global spam traffic, can compromise the privacy of your recipients, and can serve to generate more email addresses for spammers’ mailing lists.

Many such emails also contain web links to compromised websites containing malicious code that can infect even ‘protected’ PCs.

Officers advise users to delete such emails immediately, and on no account should they click on any web links or open any attachments. If users have any doubts about whether any given ‘warning’ is genuine they should check via the website of the service provider concerned.

Officers advise Internet users to ensure that their PCs are running up-to-date antivirus, antispyware and firewall software, all of which is available free of charge for personal use. They also advise turning off any ‘auto-preview’ modes in their email software, and encourage all email users to observe their tips for avoiding email spam.

If you have any concerns regarding the above please contact Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506

Pro-Tibet Video Email Warning

Staffordshire Community Services are warning Internet users to be wary of an email currently in circulation containing a malicious pro-Tibet video file.

The emails contain an attachment entitled "RaceForTibet.exe". When opened, the file shows a video cartoon ridiculing the efforts of a Chinese gymnast at the Olympic Games. However, the booby trapped file also silently installs keystroke logging software on the user’s PC, which sends the data captured to a computer in China. Captured data could include sensitive information such as usernames and passwords.

This is not the first time recently that malware writers have attempted to exploit current interests in the Beijing Olympics and the pro-Tibet demonstrations; net security firms have recently reported that some pro-Tibet websites had been modified by attackers to host malicious software. The ‘Fribet’ Trojan horse was placed on hacked websites and subsequently loaded onto users PCs through a Windows vulnerability.

As usual, officers advise all email users to remain vigilant and to delete such suspicious emails immediately. On no account should they click on any embedded web links or open any attachments.

Officers advise Internet users to ensure that their PCs are running up-to-date antivirus, antispyware and firewall software, all of which are available free of charge for personal use, and that their operating system security patches are up to date. They also advise turning off any ‘auto-preview’ features in their email software, and encourage all email users to observe their tips for avoiding spam emails (Avoiding Spam).

If you have any concerns regarding the above please contact Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506.

DEBT SCAM

Staffordshire Trading Standards Officers are urging people to be on their guard after reports were received that a resident in the area received a phone call from a scammer posing as a representative from a high street bank.

The representative claimed that the resident had £9000 worth of debt and was offering to sell a finance agreement that could help to pay off the debt.

The resident has reported that she does not have any debt and has never had any dealings with the bank in question and therefore believed the representative was not a legitimate bank employee.

If you come into contact with this company, or think you already have please contact your local Trading Standards Office to report it.

Never enter into finance agreements to clear debts without first contacting an organisation such as the Citizens Advice Bureau who can offer you advice and guidance about the best way to manage debts.

If you would like further information about debt management please contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506

TELEPHONE SCAM

Trading Standards Officers in Staffordshire are urging people to be on their guard after a spate of telephone calls requesting detailed information about people’s bank accounts have been reported.

The company involved claims it is carrying out a national survey and asks people over the telephone which bank they use and whether they are happy with the service provided. They then go on to ask for more detailed information about people’s bank accounts.

When the company is asked to give more information about themselves and why they are calling they hang up, and so far BT have been unable to trace the calls.

BT have advised that a number of scams like this are currently circulating and once the company has your bank details they may try to use them over the internet.

Never give personal information out over the telephone. If the caller is genuine they should not have to ask you for detailed information. If you ever feel you are being pressured to give out personal information terminate the call and contact your local Trading Standards office to report the call.

BOGUS HEALTH AND SAFETY CHECKS

Staffordshire Trading Standards Officers are urging small business owners to be on their guard after reports have been received regarding a company operating in the South Cheshire area.

Representatives from this company have been making unsolicited visits to businesses and informing owners that all electrical equipment needs to be PAT tested (portable appliance tested).

The representative goes on to explain that the traders insurance is void if they do not have a PAT test certificate from them, at a cost of £179, and any other PAT testing carried out by an electrician of the traders choice is worthless.

The Institute of Electrical Engineers Code of Practice states that ‘those carrying out the inspection and testing must be competent to undertake the inspection’. To this end any electrician or electrical engineer appropriately trained and registered is able to undertake this testing without affecting your insurance.

Reports received so far suggest that this company is particularly targeting hairdressers but other small businesses are warned to be on their guard.

As yet, Officers have only been hearing about this company’s visits after the event and they are yet to receive any information regarding names of the representatives or their vehicle details.

If you come into contact with this company or think you may have already been visited by one of their representatives please report it to Paul Burrow at Cheshire Trading Standards on 01260 375488.

BOGUS CALLS ABOUT AGE CONCERN

Staffordshire Trading Standards Officers are urging residents to look out for vulnerable neighbours after reports that fraudsters operating in the Staffordshire area are passing themselves off as employees of Age Concern.

One lady in her 80s received a call from someone who said they were from Age Concern, asking if she would like a home visit. The lady asked if this was a free service and the person admitted that it would cost her £99, plus an extra £39.65 every 3 months.

The resident refused and reported the incident to her local Trading Standards office for assistance.

Age Concern have confirmed that they would not charge for such a home visit and that the person who called this lady did not work for them. Trading Standards officers are advising residents to be on their guard against such unlawful practices.

Be wary of people who phone promoting goods or services or ask if they can visit you in your home, they may not be who they say they are. If in doubt don’t let them in, or ask someone to sit with you when they come round.

If you have received any such calls like the one above you should report them to your local Trading Standards office.

SCAM AWARENSS MONTH

February 2008 is Scam Awareness Month and Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards have placed collection bins in all Staffordshire libraries to help you dump your unwanted scam letters.

Each library has been allocated a special scamnesty wheelie bin in which you can dump all your unwanted junk mail for Trading Standards Officers to deal with.

Postal scams target the vulnerable and come in many different guises; chain letters; cash prize awards; clairvoyants; free holidays and other such junk mail. All prey on you to give over either your savings or personal information.

Scam Awareness Month hopes to highlight good consumer know-how and help people see a scam for what it really is—rubbish.

Remember if it looks too good to be true it usually is!

FAKE UNSAFE LEATHER SOFAS

Staffordshire Trading Standards officers are asking residents to watch out for door step traders offering to sell them three piece suites.

In recent years Trading Standards officers have investigated a number of traders selling three piece suites door to door, some of which were found to be illegal imports that did not comply with UK Safety regulations and were deadly fire hazards.

It is thought that the traders who have been seen calling door to door in the Colton area of Staffordshire could be selling similar sofas. Reports state that the traders drive a white transit van and that they offer to sell a 'brand new' three piece suite, which is surplus stock or an unwanted wedding gift.

Consumers are being warned not to buy the sofas. Many illegal sofas that do not comply with the law are very flammable and made from poor quality materials. Always look for the labels which are mandatory on all fire resistant furniture.

If you have seen or been visited be people selling sofas or three piece suites to your door Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards officers would like to hear from you. You can call confidentially on the number below. Help put a stop to this dangerous business and look out for your neighbours and community too.

Trading Standards Confidential 01785 330 356

From Consumer Support Network, S O T
Problem: An elderly resident in the local area received an unsolicited telephone call from a man saying he was ringing on behalf of ‘Uniseal’ and his name was Steve. He informed the householder that there had been a number of burglaries in the area and the householder will probably need to buy new double glazing.

From Consumer Support Network, S O T
Problem: An e-mail is being circulated from ‘The Foundazione Pergolesi Sponti (FPS) a non governmental organisation stating that the recipient’s been chosen by the board of Trustees for a donation cash grant. The sender then states that the European Union is giving out yearly donations. The sender then asks you to fill out a form online.
Possible Action: Do not complete any form or give any personal details. It is a scam so that the sender can use your personal details for identity theft.

From Consumer Support Network, S O T
Problem: An elderly resident in the local area received an unsolicited telephone call from a man saying he was ringing on behalf of ‘Uniseal’ and his name was Steve. He informed the householder that there had been a number of burglaries in the area and the householder will probably need to buy new double glazing.

From Consumer Support Network, S O T
Problem: A man is knocking on doors unsolicited in the local area showing no identification. He asked to check the water pressure and asked the council tenant if he could go to the bathroom. The householder questioned the man and said they would speak to the Council to check his credentials. The man seemed nervous and then said he would get a colour water tester from his van. He did not return.
Possible Action: Do not let anyone into your property if unsure. Always check with the Council. Ring our Department asap for help/ advice. For further information call The Regulatory Services Advice Team on 01782 232065

Identity Theft Warning

Staffordshire Community Services are issuing a renewed identity fraud warning in the light of recent data losses by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

The warning follows reports of the loss of data discs by HMRC staff. The discs include the names and dates of birth of child benefit claimants and their children, their addresses, National Insurance numbers and the details of the bank or building society accounts into which Child Benefit is or was paid.

There is no evidence to suggest that the missing data has fallen into the hands of criminals. Banks and building societies are aware of the problem. They are acting on the information, and have given assurances that they have appropriate safeguards in place to protect account holders.

If you are the innocent victim of banking fraud you will not have to pay, but there are some steps that you can take to protect yourself. Check your accounts regularly for signs of unusual activity. If you receive bills, invoices or receipts or see entries in your statements for goods or services which you have not ordered you should contact your bank or building society immediately.

In addition, do not give out personal or account details if anyone contacts you unexpectedly. Instead take a note of their name and number, and if you are at all suspicious contact your bank or building society.

If your online bank or building society account password uses any of your personal data, for example your child’s name or date of birth, you may also wish to consider changing any passwords you use. The advice of banks is there is no need for customers to ask for a new account or to contact their bank or building society. Your Child Benefit payments will continue to be paid as before and you do not need to contact HMRC.

Fraudsters often pose as bank officials who contact you to ‘confirm’ certain banking or transaction details. They may already have some details, but are actually interested in obtaining the information that they do not have, such as passwords, card numbers, card issue dates, PINs, and signature strip security numbers. They will ask for the information on the pretext that it is required as a security check to ensure that they are speaking with the correct person or cardholder. The reality is that they do not have this information, and their phoney replies of confirmation as you divulge it is all part of the charade. Remain vigilant, and be sceptical – you will be glad you did.

LANDBANKING PROFITEERING

Staffordshire Trading Standards Officers are advising consumers to be wary of unscrupulous ‘land banking’ schemes and their promoters.

Land banking is where plots of land, often areas where house prices are high, urban areas or land allocated for development are sold on as areas of investment. This is done through the internet, telesales or at stands at lifestyle exhibitions.

Unscrupulous sellers have been found to be duping millions of pounds out of investors by selling on unsuitable land at inflated prices or advertising them as investment opportunities for residential development when they are not.

Misleading advertising and high pressure selling techniques have been used to persuade potential investors to pay out up to £10,000 for a plot of land under the belief that planning permission for development is virtually ‘guaranteed’ and that the land can be sold to a house builder for a large profit. In reality the land may be totally unsuitable for residential development and have little hope of ever getting planning permission.

There have been examples where the land offered for sale was located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, a site of special scientific Interest or on geographically unsuitable ground. Often the land ends up abandoned and neglected.

The Office of Fair Trading’s advice to anyone thinking of investing in land is to always:

• question any claims made or any assurances that your investment will make money,
• take independent professional advice about the status of the land for sale and future development potential before parting with any money,
• ascertain from the local authority planning department how likely it is that planning permission will be granted in the future and
• investigate the seller carefully before you commit any funds.

Anyone who is unsure about an investment opportunity can contact Consumer Direct for advice on 08454 0405 06.

MR KIPLING RECALL MINCE PIES

The manufacturers Manor Bakers have issued a recall of certain batches of their Mr Kipling 6 Mince Pies range due to a production fault which resulted in a small number of pies containing pieces of food-grade rubber.

No other Mr Kipling products are known to be affected.

The affected products are:

Mr Kipling Mince Pies 6 in a box bearing the following production codes (located directly below the 'Best before' date).

235, 239,253, 254,259,260,261 or 262
Manor Bakeries is undertaking a product recall of all of these affected batches and public notices are to be placed in the national press advising customers who have purchased the affected batches not to eat them, but to return the end flap of the packaging (which contains the traceability code) to:

Customer Care Manger, Mr Kipling Cakes, Fish Dam Lane, Carlton, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, SY71 3HQ.

All implicated retailers have been contacted and informed by the company of the product recall.

Skype worm warning

Staffordshire Community Services are warning Internet users to be wary of a new virus affecting the Skype instant messaging service.

The worm arrives in Skype chat boxes with a link to a JPEG image file.

One of the messages reads,

“Hey, where I put ur photo ;-) now u populr. oops sorry please dont look there. look what crazy photo Tiffany sent me, looks cool”

After the user clicks the link they are prompted to save or run a .scr file which loads the virus onto the user’s PC.

Officers advise all users to exercise caution whilst using instant messaging software. Users should never click on links contained within unsolicited messages from unknown individuals, and should never run or save software from untrusted sources.

Internet users are also reminded of the importance of using up to date antivirus, firewall and anti-spyware software on their PCs at all times, all of which is available online free of charge for personal use.

More information is available here: http://heartbeat.skype.com/2007/09/the_worm_that_affects_skype_fo.html

ROADSIDE TRADERS

Staffordshire Trading Standards Officers are warning consumers about the dangers of buying goods from roadside traders after a consumer was conned in to buying an empty box.

The consumer reported that they were told they purchased a brand new flat screen TV for £120 cash from a person operating from the back of a car in a car park. They said that the TVs were so cheap because they were stock from a shop that was closing down, but when the resident got home he found that the boxes were empty!

If you buy high street brand goods from roadside traders it is likely that you will not see them again to complain if necessary. In many situations the goods are stolen or counterfeit and may be poor quality, faulty or contain hazardous ingredients.

Don’t be fooled into thinking you are getting a good deal, high street stores sell goods at competitive prices for your benefit. By buying from reputable stores you are guaranteed a fair price and the right to take goods back for refunds or repair.

If you suspect a person is selling ‘dodgy’ goods you should report the incident immediately to Staffordshire Trading Standards on our new hotline:

TRADING STANDARDS CONFIDENTIAL 01785 330 356

Alternatively, if you require consumer advice please call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06

Money Wire Warning

Staffordshire Community Services are warning consumers to think twice before paying for goods or services online using money wire services such as those offered by Moneygram or Western Union.

These services are a useful way of sending money to friends or family overseas. However, they are also frequently the weapon of choice for scammers and con artists.

The warning follows the case of a Nuneaton-based man who paid out a total of over £1200 to African-based scammers for a puppy that never existed. The victim initially saw the puppy advertised for sale on a classified ads website.

After contacting the seller via the email address shown in advert, the buyer was persuaded that the puppy could be shipped to him from a UK address to his home. After initially wiring the seller £250, the buyer was persuaded to send further payments as ‘problems’ (including delivery errors, quarantine charges, administration costs) developed.

The seller claimed to be based in Newcastle under Lyme. However, their emails have been traced back to Cameroon in Africa. The sellers prayed upon their victim’s naivety and their emotional attachment to a puppy shown in a photograph.

Officers advise never to send money to strangers using money wire services.

Avoid Spam

The majority of Internet-based scams start off with an unsolicited email. Whether it is a phishing attempt, a bogus lottery prize award notification, a fictitious greetings card scam, or someone from Nigeria with $50,000 to give away, your inbox is where it all begins. Apart from being a general nuisance, unsolicited commercial emails, or spam, can cost you dearly if you are not careful online.

The best way to avoid the scam is to avoid the spam. Here are 10 tips for reducing the amount of spam that you receive:

1. Consider creating a free, web-based email account for use with anyone other than your close friends and family. Activate any junk mail filters that are provided, and use the account for online purchases and subscriptions. Delete the account and get another when spam levels get too high.

2. Choose a long email address that is difficult to auto-generate. Many spammers use ‘dictionary’ software to generate thousands of usernames that are then attached to the domain names of popular email providers, such as Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL and MSN. The longer your username (the portion of the email address before the @ symbol), the harder it will be for a computer to auto-generate.

3. Never disclose your email address on internet websites, blogs, discussion groups, forums or newsgroups - spammers routinely ‘harvest’ email addresses from the internet using automated software, or ‘bots’, and will capture your email address within hours.

4. If you must disclose your email address (for example, on your own website) consider embedding the address within an image/graphic file, thereby avoiding detection by email harvesting bots.

5. Never, never, never click the ‘unsubscribe’ link on unsolicited emails - this merely serves to authenticate your email address to spammers and is guaranteed to increase, rather than decrease the amount of spam that you receive.

6. Users of Outlook Express should consider blocking images in HTML email. Spam often contains images that act as ‘web beacons’ that notify the sender’s web server when you preview or read email messages. This serves to validate your email address as being live and active, and will likely result in increased spam. Images can be turned off in Outlook Express by going to Tools > Options > Security Tab > “Block images and other external content in HTML e-mail”.

7. Uncheck ‘3rd party’ disclosure boxes when making online purchases or subscribing to online services - they are often checked by default.

8. Do not assume that the owners of a website are always telling the truth when they promise that they will never pass your email address to others. Such promises are incapable of being validated, and it will be impossible to trace any breach to the perpetrator responsible. Be an Internet sceptic.

9. Remember what you sign-up for. Keep confirmation e-mails in a separate email folder so that you can easily distinguish spam from genuine emails.

10. Never click on links within emails, regardless of their nature. Doing
so will not only validate your address to the sender, but may also direct you to a phishing website or to one which will launch malicious code on your PC. At the very least, it will elevate you, the recipient, to the unenviable status of ‘gullible’, and the frequency and malevolence of the spam you receive will increase.

Password warning

Staffordshire Community Services are warning consumers to think carefully when choosing usernames and passwords for websites.

Their warning follows a report of a gentleman who suffered theft from his Paypal account after inadvertently disclosing his eBay username and password to scammers following the receipt of a phishing email. The victim had chosen the same password for both his eBay and his Paypal account.

The scammers were able to access the eBay account and carry out fraudulent activity in the victim’s name. With a little guesswork, the scammers also accessed the victim’s Paypal account and made a number of fraudulent online transactions.

Trading standards officers advise Internet users to choose unique, hard-to-guess passwords for websites for whom security is of high importance (e.g. online banking, eBay, Paypal). On no account should these passwords be shared with ‘casual’ website registrations, such as online user forums and discussion groups, nor should they be shared with registrations for online retailers.

The victim in this instance suffered through inadvertently responding to a ‘phishing’ email – a bogus email that appeared to originate from a known source but in fact pointed to a spoof website designed to steal password information or install malicious code on the user’s PC.

Email users should assume that any emails purporting to originate from banks and similar organisations are bogus if they contain ‘login’ requests (for whatever reason) and accompanying website links.

BOGUS FIRE SAFETY CHECKS

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Staffordshire Police are warning the public about bogus callers following an incident in the Newcastle area.

A lady in Clayton received a telephone call from someone stating that they would be visiting her home to conduct a fire and safety check. The lady was immediately suspicious as fire fighters had been to her home just five weeks previously to carry out a home fire risk check. She rang Newcastle Fire Station who confirmed that no-one from the Fire and Rescue Service had made the phone call.

Becci Bryant, Assistant Area Commander for the Newcastle area says, “Crews conducting home fire risk checks will always be in uniform and will be in marked Fire and Rescue Service vehicles. All our personnel will carry photo I.D cards, which members of the public should request to see - identities can be confirmed by ringing 08451 22 11 55. This number can also be rung to confirm any appointments.”

If members of the public are suspicious of callers to the house they should contact the police immediately.

To book a free Home Fire Risk Check contact: 08451 22 11 55 or log onto: www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk or www.firekills.gov.uk.

BOGUS DIANA MEMORIAL

Staffordshire Trading Standards are warning consumers about a scam email that is using the name of the late Diana, Princess of Wales to trick consumers out of their savings.

The spam campaign pretends that the recipient has won a charitable grant from a global humanitarian organisation set up to create a living memorial to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The messages claim that recipients have been randomly selected to receive £2,598,000.00. The emails say that to receive the grant they must make contact with the organisation, who will reply with further instructions. However, the emails, which say they come from the "Diana Memorial Foundation", are not connected with the genuine Diana Memorial Fund.

This scam is a variant of the commonly-encountered "Letter from Nigeria" scams, also known as 419 Advanced Fee Fraud, that fool innocent users into believing that a large amount of money will be transferred into their bank account, but are really designed to steal information about the user's bank account or demand a "handling fee" for the money transfer.

Consumers are being advised that they should never reply to emails from unknown sources and to be wary when dealing with emails that want to give a free prize or ask you for personal information. If you have supplied your banking information to third parties in similar circumstances to these you should contact your account branch immediately. Remember if it looks too good to be true – it usually is, there is often a hidden cost and you could lose more than you bargained for.

DONT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFO

Consumers are being warned about the dangers of giving out personal information to door step callers and people conducting street surveys.

Many consumers think that giving out their names, addresses or other personal information when dealing with traders over the phone or in the street is harmless, but you could be signing up to an unwanted contract or give fraudsters access to your bank account.

Consumers in Staffordshire have been targeted by bogus prize draws and aggressive telephone sales, after agreeing to take part in a survey in the street.

Staffordshire Trading Standards advise people to think carefully before giving out their address or phone number and to NEVER give out bank details to someone on the street without first checking their identity very carefully.

MOBILE PHONE BATTERY FAULTS

Mobile phone manufacturer Nokia have issued an alert to consumers following reports about a faulty batch of batteries for their mobile phones which overheat during recharding.
The Nokia branded BL-5C battery, manufactured by Matsushita between December 2005 and November 2006 has been found to be the cause of the faults and is used in a wide selection on Nokia mobile phone models.
The alert from Nokia stresses that no serious injuries or property damage have been reported, but if left unattended during recharging surfaces could be at risk.
Only 100 affected cases have been reported by this malfunction so far and Nokia has stated that they will replace all faulty items.
A special web site has been set up to help consumers understand the fault and to identify if their Nokia mobile phone contains the BL-5C battery that has been affected.

http://www.nokia.com/batteryreplacement/en/

MATTEL TOY RECALL

Toy manufacturer Mattel has begun a recall of more than 18 million Mattel toys from stores worldwide, the toys could be a potential health hazard for children as they have been found to contain small magnets and lead based paint.

Customers in the UK and Ireland who have purchased these toys should contact Mattel's helpline on 01628 500 303 or email HelplineUK@mattel.com or visit the company's UK website at www.service.mattel.com/uk/

Pixar's Cars Vehicle:
• Sarge toy car sold alone
• Sarge toy car sold in a package of two, affected vehicles have a serial number on the bottom ending "7EA"

Batman:
• Magna Battle Figure
• Magna Fight Wing Figure
• Magna Bruce to Batman Figure
• Magna Fight Figure

Barbie:
• Barbie doll and Tanner
• One Piece
• One Piece Triple Slash Zolo Roronoa figure
• Doggie Daycare
• Snacktime With Cookie Play set
• Diaper Change with Ginger Play set
• Ice cream with Ranger Play set
• Lula and Baby Play set
• Crockett and Baby Play set
• Lucy and Baby Play set
• CoCo and Baby Play set
• Sparky and Baby
• Dreamhouse Nursery with Honey Play set
• Bathtime with Beau Play set
• Puppy Park With Dixie Play set

BOGUS TARMAC GANGS

Staffordshire County Council is issuing a warning about tarmac gangs that are targeting churches and village halls in the area.

In some cases the gangs are claiming that work has been agreed, in others they are allegedly providing substandard services and over charging for badly done work. Churches and village halls should not feel pressurised into parting with money for substandard work; if you haven't asked for the work then you do not have to pay for it.

The advice being given is to check thoroughly any claim made about work being agreed or pre-approved. Always act with caution before parting with money for work and ensure that you get three written and detailed quotations for any work you require. Traders who have agreed to do a good job at a fair price can be contacted through Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Trader Register on 01785 600610 or by visiting www.traderregister.org.uk

If you have been approached by a tarmac gang that is offering to work on your property, seen one that is working in your local area or if you have already authorised tarmac work on your premises and are not happy with the work that is being carried out, you can report the incident immediately to our Fraud and Special Investigation Team on: 07773 792252.

DIGITAL TV - CHANGEOVER SCAM

Consumers in Staffordshire are being targeted by a firm using confusion about the changeover to digital television to sign people up to unnecessary contracts.

The firm is cold calling local consumers saying that they are selling Sky digital boxes and aerials for a reduced price. The firm also asks people if they want to agree to further Sky packages or contracts.

However these ’digital boxes’ are just a sales incentive the firm is using to sign people up to Sky subscriptions. Many people who have agreed to buy them but refused the offer of subscription have found themselves being signed up to unwanted contracts anyway.

Consumers should remember that they are under no pressure to accept offers that are made to them over the phone and should either just say ‘NO’ or hang up the phone. Unfortunately if something looks too good to be true it probably is.

Staffordshire Trading Standards are advising residents that they are under no obligation to accept telephone marketing offers and that if they do accept any type of contract they have a cooling off period of 7 days in which they are totally within their rights to cancel.

FAKE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Staffordshire County Council is reminding residents to be extra vigilant when dealing with doorstep callers. The warning comes after complaints were received about persons visiting residents in Staffordshire who said they were from the government.

The bogus officials visited homes on a number of occasions saying that they were conducting a survey into government expenditure. It is a criminal offence to impersonate a government official.

Residents should remember to always check identification is valid and true. A recent survey found that 50% of bogus callers carried fake ID so residents should always check by phoning the head office of the organisation by obtaining the number from the phone book, not directly from the caller.
You have the right to say no to doorstep callers, even if they are who they say they are – they do not have the right to enter your home without a warrant or your permission. If you are unsure or if the caller will not go away you should inform the police immediately.

FAKE TOOTHPASTE

Staffordshire Trading Standards Officers are warning consumers to be aware of an illegal counterfeit version of Sensodyne toothpaste that has been found to be on sale in local markets and discount shops throughout the UK.
GlaxoSmithKline who manufacture the official brand of Sensodyne toothpaste have confirmed that these fakes have no connection with their own brand. The counterfeit toothpaste is falsely packaged with both Arabic and English text and is sold in a 50ml tube, a tube size that GSK do not sell.
The counterfeit version contains a potentially hazardous chemical - diethylene glycol (DEG). GlaxoSmithKline stated that they do not use DEG as an ingredient in their toothpaste anywhere in the world as the chemical can be toxic to young children and anyone with impaired liver or kidney function.
GlaxoSmithKline is working with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Trading Standards in removing these products from sale.
How to identify the counterfeit packs
• The counterfeits are packaged in dual language packs with Arabic and English text. The two languages are on the carton and the tube. Two variants have been found: Sensodyne Original and Sensodyne Mint.
• The counterfeits are in 50ml tubes. GSK does not market this size of toothpaste tube in the UK.
What Consumers should do
• Only buy Sensodyne that is packaged in English-only packs from reputable retailers.
• Consumers who suspect they have purchased counterfeit toothpaste should discard the pack.

CASH-BACK PHONE CONTRACTS

Staffordshire Community Services is advising consumers to act with caution before they sign any mobile phone contract that offers a 'cash back' incentive.
Consumers who have signed up to the long term ‘cash back’ mobile phone contracts have complained that traders are failing to pay out and give people the cash incentive.
The cash back deal encourages customers to sign up to high priced line rental contracts offering cash back to cover part of the line rental.
However many customers are unaware that the ‘cash back offer’ is a separate deal to the mobile phone contract they have with the network operator and is just a sales incentive to make them sign.
It is extremely important that if you sign up to a cash back deal, you ensure that you are able to pay the full cost of the mobile telephone line rental as you may not receive a cash back payment as promised. Failure to pay for your mobile telephone line rental may leave you in breach of contract with the mobile phone operator. Mobile phone operators’ can refuse to accept responsibility for cash back deals.
If anyone has any queries or is experiencing any similar problems please contact Consumer Direct 0845 404 0506 for further advice and information.

SCAM EMAILS

Staffordshire County Council is warning residents not to reply to emails that ask for personal information.

Criminals use ‘Phishing’ emails to obtain personal information. Fraudsters use a number of phishing methods, some look like genuine emails from major companies whilst others look more personal. People who use phishing emails are doing so to obtain your personal details so they can access your bank account.

This style of identity theft is becoming more prevalent, because of the ease with which unsuspecting people often willingly divulge personal information over the internet and through emails.

One Staffordshire resident reported that they had received a phishing email in response to an advert they placed on the internet to sell a second hand dress for £200. The email began innocently enough with the person interested in the dress but it shortly became obvious that this was a bogus email as the fraudster wanted them to accept a £1,000 cheque for the dress and for the resident to send the remaining money back to them with their personal banking details.

This consumer had a lucky escape as not only would the £200 cheque probably have bounced, but they would have lost the remainder of the sum they forwarded on and their bank account details would be in the hands of a stranger.

Staffordshire Community Services advise consumers to never give out any personal information; people who you do not know should not need to know your bank account or personal details.

If you are buying or selling goods over the internet you should only do so through trusted web sites with high security measures. Look for this security symbol at the bottom of your internet browser screen, it is an indication that a pay site is protected and safe. Also check that the web address changes from http to https as this also demonstrates a secure site:-

OFFSHORE INVESTMENT SCAMS

Staffordshire Community Services would like to make Consumers aware of an offshore investment scam that is targeting residents.

Local residents have reported that they have received letters from people who claim to be senior investment consultants from a bank in Spain called ‘Cass Lombarda’. The letters state that one of their investors in Spain has the same name as you and that they have died along with their entire family in a car crash. The fraudsters then try to entice you to pose as this person to claim the inheritance.

Consumers who have been caught out by this scam have reported that the fraudsters continued to hassle them for money for extra admin and legal fees, then ask for bank details and withdraw money without permission.

Offshore investment scams like this one work by targeting unsuspecting people who think they could be onto a good thing. Usually these fraudsters aren't even from the country they say they are, this particular scam is thought to be based somewhere in the UK.

Consumers are being urged not to respond to unsolicited emails or letters. You should NEVER reveal personal information, bank account or credit card details to anyone.

You should never give money to claim a prize, and if you have forwarded money or personal details onto someone who has sent you an unsolicited email or letter, then contact the police and your bank immediately.

Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, then it usually is.

ICE LOLLY RECALL

The supermarket chain Waitrose Limited, have issued a public notice withdrawing a batch of ice lollies that have been labelled incorrectly.
Waitrose Limited are recalling the product because labels for ‘Real Fruit Juice Assorted Ice Lollies’ do not show that they contain milk. This makes this batch of lollies unsafe for consumers who have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents. No other Waitrose products are known to be affected.
Waitrose have withdrawn all of the wrongly labelled stock from sale and point of sale notices will be displayed in stores to inform consumers to return the affected products if they have purchased any. They have also informed the Anaphylaxis Campaign and Allergy UK who will issue the notice on their websites.

Product identification
Waitrose Lollies Real Fruit Juice Assorted, 6 x 73 ml
Best before end: January 2008
Batch code: 6201N7

Staffordshire Community Services are advising consumers who have an allergy or an intolerance to milk and lactose not to consume this product.

More information about food allergies and lactose intolerance can be found at the following allergy help group websites:

http://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/ and http://www.allergyuk.org/

DIY TEETH WHITENING KITS

Staffordshire Community Services are warning consumers to beware of buying DIY teeth whitening kits after tests performed by Trading Standards Officers found many contained illegally high levels of a chemical called hydrogen peroxide, a bleaching agent that is also found in hair dye.

In the tests 18 out of 20 DIY cosmetic teeth whitening kits were found to contain levels of hydrogen peroxide greater than is legally allowed. One product contained up to 230 times the legal amount. These findings should not be confused with whitening toothpastes or polishes which were found to be safe.

The tests found that these high levels of hydrogen peroxide can aggravate gum disease, causes sensitive teeth and can even result in chemical burns to the mouth.

Staffordshire Community Services are strongly recommending that anyone considering having their teeth whitened cosmetically should consult a qualified dentist.

FALSE OFFICIAL

Staffordshire County Council is reminding residents to act with caution before allowing any unknown person that calls at their door access to their home.

The reminder comes after reports have been received that rogue traders who are pretending to represent a security alarm company have been operating in the area and claiming to be working on behalf of the council.

Reports from local residents state that the rogue traders have called at their doors saying they work for the council and are checking emergency pull cords. Once they are through the door the traders go into their sales patter and try and get the resident to buy a cheap security system worth only £9.99. The traders do not have any official council identification and when asked admit they do not work for the council.

Staffordshire County Council is also warning residents in Newcastle to be on their guard for doorstep sales people claiming to be working with Warmzone.

The callers are offering to carry out insulation work on property at a discounted rate. They are not working with Warmzone and are charging £269 or more for work that could in fact be carried out FREE by Warmzone.

Warmzone provides insulation free of charge if people are eligible. If residents do have to pay, Warmzone charge £149.

Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards advise people not to do business of any kind over their doorstep. If you are contacted by a person supposedly from the council or another official body, ask to see their identification and call their employer to confirm who they are.

If in doubt don’t let unknown callers into your home, it is your property and they have no right to enter it.

If you are concerned or worried about an unknown doorstep caller that knocks at your door, please contact the police immediately.

COLD CALLING

Staffordshire County Council is warning residents not to be duped into buying shares from bogus tele-sales people.

The warning comes after a resident reported receiving a number of calls from a person who claimed to be a stock broker working on the New York Stock Exchange.

The bogus salesperson contacted the resident offering them the opportunity to buy shares for £17,000. The resident refused to buy the shares and the salesperson then offered to sell the shares for a reduced price, £700. This was on the condition that the resident paid by bank or credit card for the shares over the telephone.

The consumer declined the offer and correctly reported the call to Trading Standards.

Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards advise people not to give out their bank or personal details to unknown callers. Remember that if you do you are giving strangers access to your personal bank account and your money.

DOUBLE GLAZING VOUCHERS SCAM

Staffordshire County Council is warning people to be on their guard against a company that is cold calling on residents claiming that they have won vouchers for double glazing.

The warning comes after a number of older residents have reported receiving unsolicited calls from a claiming they have won £300 in vouchers for double glazing. The firm then try to arrange an appointment to see if the property needs double glazing.

After inspecting the property the ‘salesperson’ produces a quote for a new doors or windows, for example for £2426. The sales person then claims that as the person had won vouchers, this included £300 discount. However the residents were informed that to benefit from the discount they had to pay an additional deposit of £250 immediately.

The firm uses the ploy of free vouchers to gain access into your home so that they can secure a SALE. Remember that you cannot win a prize if you haven’t entered into a competition.

Staffordshire Trading Standards state that you should be aware of this sort of sales technique and advise people to get three quotes before agreeing to any work.

CHOCOLATE RECALL

Staffordshire Health and Consumer Services are alerting consumers that Cadbury Trebor Bassett has undertaken a full product recall of its own brand chocolate Easter and Dairy Milk originals products due to cross-contamination with hazelnuts. This is not declared on the labels, which makes them unsafe for people who are allergic to nuts.
Trebor Bassett has contacted Anaphylaxis Campaign and Allergy UK who will also be alerting their members. A customer helpline is now available on 0800818181. Anyone who has bought one of these products will be offered a full refund.
Product Details (best before end: July 07)
• Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons Easter Chick 11000656
• Cadbury Giant Easter Egg Delight Milk & Dark 890g 11000596
• Cadbury Large Easter Egg Delight Mixed Eggs 492g 10000365
• Cadbury Dairy Milk Giant Easter Egg 795g 783110
• Cadbury Giant Easter Egg With Creme Eggs 629g 783108
• Cadbury Std Easter Egg With Flake 185g 10000339
• Cadbury Large Easter Egg With Fruit & Nut 445g 11000589
• Cadbury Giant Easter Egg With Mini Eggs 595g 783122
• Cadbury Medium Easter Egg With Mini Eggs 190g11000653
• Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 11000896
• Cadbury Mini Creme Eggs 58g Bags 00781764
• Cadbury Mini Creme Eggs 100g Bags 725762
• Cadbury Mini Creme Egg Tube 160g 781917
• Cadbury Mini Creme Eggs Box 300g 783652
• Cadbury Small Easter Egg With Mini Creme Eggs 98g 787084
• Cadbury Mini Caramel Eggs 100g Bags 782568
• Cadbury Dairy Milk Miniatures 100g 704682
• Cadbury Dairy Milk Miniatures 5.5kg 742283
• Cadbury Std Easter Egg With Creme Eggs 756223
• Cadbury Easter In A Box 783348
No other products are known to be affected

ROUGUE BUILDERS - BUILDING WORK

Staffordshire County Council is reminding residents to act with caution before agreeing to have building work carried out on their home.

The warning comes after a resident contacted Trading Standards to report a builder who over a period of 18 months had befriended their elderly neighbour and persuaded her to part with nearly £16,000 for unnecessary work on her home. The builder also persuaded the elderly lady to allow him first refusal on her home, when she sells it.

The person alerted Trading Standards as they were concerned with the amount of time the trader was spending at their neighbour’s home. In addition to this their neighbour had told them that the builder had driven them to the bank and that the bank had contacted them to query the amount of cash they had withdrawn.

Staffordshire Trading Standards Officers advise residents to always act with caution before parting with money for home improvement work, and to never feel pressurised into parting with money for substandard work. Residents should always ensure they get three written and detailed quotations for any work they would like carrying out on their home.

HELP STOP BETTING SCAMS

Staffordshire County Council is helping a new team at The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) set up to help prevent consumers being ripped off by racing and betting scams. Consumers are being asked for any information they may have on these types of scams to help them in their investigations.
The majority of betting scams involve mail shots or adverts which offer free betting tips. The scams offer a limited number places to join a syndicate where members can get betting tips by calling a special classified number. They promise very high returns and success rates on the bets but are in fact just making money off people’s greed for easy money and their gullibility.
Information that would be useful:
• details about the mailings / advert;
• copy of the mailing / advert;
• when it was circulated and / or received;
• what in the mailing / advert was considered misleading or deceptive;
• did the mailing / advert guarantee high returns;
• did the mailing / advert / scheme involve a premium rate number;
• whether consumers have complained about the mailing / advert / scheme;
• whether any consumers have sent money to join the schemes;
• what the consumer received for the money; etc.
Help the OFT stop these types of scams, if you are aware of any such scams please send details to: info@loggerheads.eu

COUNCIL UNAPPROVED

Staffordshire County Council Health and Consumer Services would like to make local residents aware of utilities suppliers that are stating they have a contract with your local council.
Representatives from a well known electricity supplier have been calling door to door, asking residents if they are getting the best deal for their current services. The firm state that the local council have contracted them to do street lights and asked them to check residents are getting the best deal. In many situations the firm asks to see your utility bills.
Consumer Services are advising residents to be aware that local councils have not asked the company to contact residents and are not connected with them.
If a door step trader says they are working for or with the local council, when they are in fact not, they are committing a serious criminal offence.

FAKE CHARITY LOTTERY

Staffordshire County Council is warning residents not to respond to a new email scam which claims to be from a charity run lottery.
The email lottery scam claims to represent the British Red Cross and Action Against Hunger UK but both charities have confirmed that it is a scam.

The email states that the recipient has won half a million pounds. In order to claim their prize, recipients are told to call a number and to hand over their personal details. Callers are then asked for a sizeable amount of cash up front before the 'prize' can be processed.

Trading Standards Officers are warning residents not to be duped into handing over their personal details and large amounts of cash by replying to this scam. Remember you should not pay to claim a prize.

If you receive a email or letter claiming to be from a lottery, or if you would like further advice about the subject above please contact Eric at 01630 673426 or email info@loggerheads.eu

National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week

The first National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week is being launched by CO-Awareness and the House of Commons to draw the public’s attention to the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a deadly colourless, odourless, highly poisonous gas produced by some carbon fuel appliances such as natural gas, heating oil, petrol and wood used to heat the home. You should be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning with symptoms which include mild headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and drowsiness that can result in coma or even death.

To date Carbon Monoxide is the most common type of accidental poisoning in the UK, usually as the result of poorly maintained boilers or domestic appliances and is thought to kill 50 people in Britain every year. Advice includes:
• A qualified installer should service all fuel burning appliances every 12 months.
• Coal burning appliance and natural gas appliances should have their flues and chimneys swept. This will ensure that blockages are identified.
• Never use a cooker to heat your kitchen! Unvented appliances such as hobs will give off carbon monoxide.
• Ensure the vents in your home are kept clear. Many are wallpapered over - check them now. All fuels need air!
• Buy a domestic Carbon Monoxide detector that carries the BSI Kitemark.
The National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week runs 4th to 8th December 2006 and more information can be found at the campaign's website www.co-awareness.co.uk.

FAKE SOFAS ARE A FIRE RISK

Staffordshire County Council are warning consumers not to purchase sofas from unknown sources who either operate by calling door-to-door or advertise in the local press.

The warning comes after several residents have been duped into buying fake leather sofas which do not comply with British fire and safety standards and are considered potentially lethal.

The sofas, which are believed to be imports from Poland, are being sold on the black market in the UK, either by rogue traders door to door or through adverts for prices as cheap as £300.

All sofas sold in the UK must comply with British safety standards and furniture must carry a permanent safety label. It is illegal to sell furniture that does not have the approved marking.

If a person calls at your door offering to sell you a sofa or if you would like further information about fake sofas please call Eric at 01630 673426 or email info@loggerheads.eu

DOORSTEP SELLERS

Trading Standards Officers at Staffordshire County CounciI are conducting a survey to find out what types o f goods and services are being sold over the doorstep in Staffordshire.

If a person calls at your door offering to sell you any goods or service, please ask for details of what they are selling and their contact details (if it is safe to do so).

It is not illegal for people to sell products/services over the door; Trading Standards Officers would simply like to know what products
and services are being sold over the doorstep.

If you have had a caller at your door offering to sell you anything please contact Eric at traders@loggerheads.eu , with details of the product and trader if possible.

The survey will be conducted in Staffordshire from November, 2006 to the 31 January 2007,

9/11 DISASTER CON

Staffordshire County Council is warning residents about a new scam which is using the 9/11 disaster to trick people into parting with large amounts of money.

A letter which comes from a firm based in Madrid, Spain, states that a large sum of money has been invested with their firm by a person who had died in the World Trade Centre 9/11 disaster. The firm asks for recipients bank account details so that they can share the funds with them and transfer the money into their account.

Staffordshire Trading Standards Officers are warning residents not to reply to this email as it is a scam.
Residents should not disclose their bank details to unknown sources under any circumstances. If you do so you will be giving people access to your bank account.

If you would like further information about this subject, please contact Eric at traders@loggerheads.eu

BOGUS DEBT COLLECTION

Staffordshire County Council would like to warn residents about an off-shore debt collection scam that is currently targeting people in Staffordshire.

The warning comes after residents have reported receiving a letter from a firm which is based in the Czech Republic. The letter states the firm is collecting debts on behalf of an electronics firm and that the resident must call a special telephone number to resolve the debt.
Residents have reported that when the call the phone number, it is constantly busy so the caller is asked to hold until an operator is free and told that the number is charged at a high rate.

Trading Standards Officers advise that this is a SCAM and residents should not respond to the letter by phone.

If you receive information similar to the letter that is discussed above please contact Eric at traders@loggerheads.eu

FAKE EURO MILLIONS SCAM

Staffordshire County Council is urging residents not to respond to an email which claims that they have won a European Lottery.

The email states that you are the lucky winner of at least £1,228,704.80 from a Euro Millions Lottery. Residents are told to reply to the email to collect their winnings. Residents should not respond to this email .

Trading Standards Officers are urging people not to respond to this email. If you have received an email of this sort please delete it. Residents are reminded that they should not disclose their personal details to unknown sources.

For further information about the fake lottery scam email, please contact Eric at traders@loggerheads.eu

OVERPAYMANT SCAMS!

Staffordshire County Council Health and Consumer Services are warning residents about scams which involve overseas buyers intentionally overpaying for products and services. The overpayment occurs following internet purchases from UK residents.

In many circumstances the buyers will say that they made a mistake and they have overpaid you for the price of your goods and ask you to refund them the difference or they will say that they are living in a different country but that someone in England owes them money! They will offer to send you a cheque for far more money than the actual price and then ask you to send them the difference with the goods you sold them.

Their cheques then clear into your bank, only to be stopped or refused weeks later. At this point your Bank/Building Society will take the full cheque amount out of your account. Not only will you have lost the goods, but you will also be out of pocket for the amount of their original cheque and the amount you gave as a refund on the difference.

Staffordshire Consumer Services advice is to never agree to transactions on these terms. If someone overpays you for goods return their cheque and ask them to send one for the correct amount instead of agreeing to refund the difference. For more information about scams you can contact consumer direct on 08454 040506.