News from Peterborough City Council

Peterborough City Council's trading standards service is issuing a warning to people on steps to take to avoid losing money through letter, e-mail or fax scams. 

 

Trading standards officers said they had received reports about some people being targeted by up to 10 scams a day via email, letter of fax.  Today, they warned people that if an offer appeared to be too good to be true it probably is.

 

Jane Day, senior adviser and education officer for the city council's trading standards, said:  "An estimated five million people lose money to scams in the UK every year. We hope to lower this figure significantly by raising awareness. 

 

"We were recently given information about a man who has been receiving more than 10 scam letters a day and has, unfortunately, been sending money to these rogues. "

 

Current popular scams include letters, emails or faxes, often claiming to be from a foreign "official" claiming to offer a share in a large sum of money for using your bank account to transfer money.  Other emails, known as "phishing emails" appear to be sent from banks and ask for account details or pass words.

 

Mrs Day said: "Never respond to any emails that appear to come from your bank, which ask for passwords, account details or PIN codes. Banks do not ask for account details in an e-mail. People are also advised never to give bank details to a stranger as they may find the next time they check their account has been emptied. 

 

"Our general advice would be that you should never give any bank or credit card details unless you are going to purchase the item they are being given for. "

 

If people are unsure whether an offer is genuine, or would like advice on their rights as a consumer call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.