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Bromley Trading Standards issues warnings to consumers for July’s National Scam Month (5 July 2016)

Date: 05/07/2016
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Bromley Trading Standards issues warnings to consumers for July’s National Scam Month

Bromley Council Trading Standards department is warning consumers about several recently reported scams, as National Scam Month gets underway in July.

Trading Standards are reminding residents that scams can take place in many different ways, both by “cold calling” either over the telephone or in person on the doorstep.

“Quite often, someone has been successful throughout their adult life and naturally thinks that they are sufficiently aware not to be taken in,” said Councillor Kate Lymer – Executive Councillor for Public Protection and Safety.

“But our experience shows that it is all too easy for anyone to be fooled by these highly plausible people.

“We want to protect Bromley residents and we would advise residents not to feel intimidated and most probably to politely refuse whatever deal is being offered.

“Do remember that help is at hand, with our Trading Standards team or the police able to respond if needed.”

Trading Standards are reminding residents to be suspicious and never deal on the doorstep, or be pressured into making quick decisions.

Consumers should also never give personal or bank details to anyone.

The three scams which have come to the attention of the Trading Standards team in the last week of June involve Bromley residents receiving telephone calls from a company claiming to be working with Bromley Council and offering to assist with previous accidents or insurance claims – the council said that a 90-year-old resident received repeated calls from a company calling themselves Accident Investigation Service, telling him he had been awarded £3,000 in compensation for an accident in the borough and that he would have to pay £200 in cash in order to claim it.

In another case, a Bromley resident paid thousands of pounds for bogus property repairs. The consumer – described as an older female – was cold called by two men claiming to be working on the property next door, who told her there were significant damp problems in the loft. She was asked to pay several thousand pounds for the hire of essential equipment in order that emergency repairs could be conducted. She was later told the work was no longer necessary and she would be refunded – but in order to do so, a further payment would be required for financial regulations.

Trading Standards was alerted to the incident when the resident went to her bank to make further cash withdrawals.

A tree company also persuaded an 80-year-old man in Petts Wood to part with money for gardening work – an initial payment of £400 was made and the gang were due to return the following day to collect a further £1,100. The family of the resident alerted Trading Standards, who attended and confronted the gang, who then ran off. They were driving a lorry with the words “Local Tree Services”.

Bromley Council Trading Standards said that all the incidents were being investigated – and any witnesses with information should contact the Council’s Trading Standards team.

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