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Watch scams among con comebacks | Watch scams among con comebacks |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Rogue traders are reprising old scams but with a digital twist to target people whose budgets are squeezed. | Rogue traders are reprising old scams but with a digital twist to target people whose budgets are squeezed. |
Reports to trading standards officers include the return of door-to-door watch sellers. | Reports to trading standards officers include the return of door-to-door watch sellers. |
They offer designer timepieces for £50, even using websites to back up their claims of bargains, but the products are counterfeit. | They offer designer timepieces for £50, even using websites to back up their claims of bargains, but the products are counterfeit. |
Consumers have been urged to know their rights when sellers arrive unannounced at the door. | Consumers have been urged to know their rights when sellers arrive unannounced at the door. |
Job scams | Job scams |
The economic climate has created an environment for con-artists to prosper and trading standards officers say these rogues have stepped up their efforts. | The economic climate has created an environment for con-artists to prosper and trading standards officers say these rogues have stepped up their efforts. |
Their targets include vulnerable young people who are searching for jobs, as well as older people who have been made redundant. | Their targets include vulnerable young people who are searching for jobs, as well as older people who have been made redundant. |
In May, Citizens Advice warned of phantom training courses that charge victims upfront for teaching which may not be available, or promises of a job at the end of it that is never forthcoming. | In May, Citizens Advice warned of phantom training courses that charge victims upfront for teaching which may not be available, or promises of a job at the end of it that is never forthcoming. |
Now there are reports of retro scams making a comeback, sometimes variations of con-tricks used during previous downturns. | Now there are reports of retro scams making a comeback, sometimes variations of con-tricks used during previous downturns. |
These include selling watches on the doorstep for £50 - similar to watch and leather jacket sales scams of more than 10 years ago. | |
Con-artists refer their victims to websites - usually just a front - which they say display the watch's recommended retail price of hundreds of pounds. But, in fact, these watches were counterfeit and could be bought for £5 online, said Adrian Simpson, a lead officer for the Trading Standards Institute (TSI). | Con-artists refer their victims to websites - usually just a front - which they say display the watch's recommended retail price of hundreds of pounds. But, in fact, these watches were counterfeit and could be bought for £5 online, said Adrian Simpson, a lead officer for the Trading Standards Institute (TSI). |
He added that the salesmen used hackneyed stories, such as claiming that they were returning to Italy from a conference and needed to sell their products before they returned home. | He added that the salesmen used hackneyed stories, such as claiming that they were returning to Italy from a conference and needed to sell their products before they returned home. |
Prevention | Prevention |
He stressed that anyone selling any item for more than £35 during an unannounced visit to the door must give full written instructions of cancellation rights such as notice of a seven-day cooling off period. | He stressed that anyone selling any item for more than £35 during an unannounced visit to the door must give full written instructions of cancellation rights such as notice of a seven-day cooling off period. |
Anyone who sold at the door without offering these rights would be committing a criminal offence and should be treated with scepticism, he said. | Anyone who sold at the door without offering these rights would be committing a criminal offence and should be treated with scepticism, he said. |
Reports remain relatively few in number, but were part of a general increase in scams at a time when household budgets were squeezed, he said. These included shoddy home improvements, such as cowboy driveway surfacing gangs and mass-marketing scams. | Reports remain relatively few in number, but were part of a general increase in scams at a time when household budgets were squeezed, he said. These included shoddy home improvements, such as cowboy driveway surfacing gangs and mass-marketing scams. |
"People are more aware of scams, but the internet and social media are increasing the opportunities [for fraud]," he said. | "People are more aware of scams, but the internet and social media are increasing the opportunities [for fraud]," he said. |
Con-artists can send out thousands of emails at a fraction of the cost of letters, he said. | Con-artists can send out thousands of emails at a fraction of the cost of letters, he said. |
Yet many victims of such scams felt ashamed to report cases. | Yet many victims of such scams felt ashamed to report cases. |
Consumer Minister Jo Swinson told the BBC News website that people were vulnerable to scams during difficult economic times. | Consumer Minister Jo Swinson told the BBC News website that people were vulnerable to scams during difficult economic times. |
She said that a national approach among trading standards officers was vital for spotting scam trends across the country, and consumer awareness was equally as important for preventing these scams from succeeding, | She said that a national approach among trading standards officers was vital for spotting scam trends across the country, and consumer awareness was equally as important for preventing these scams from succeeding, |
Earlier this month, the government published its draft Consumer Rights Bill which strives to clarify and update the regulations in place to protect consumers. The TSI has also unveiled a consumer codes scheme aimed at recognising trusted traders through approval schemes. | Earlier this month, the government published its draft Consumer Rights Bill which strives to clarify and update the regulations in place to protect consumers. The TSI has also unveiled a consumer codes scheme aimed at recognising trusted traders through approval schemes. |
These would all give consumers greater confidence to fight for their rights and for genuine traders to flourish, Ms Swinson said. | These would all give consumers greater confidence to fight for their rights and for genuine traders to flourish, Ms Swinson said. |
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