With Christmas in the rear lights and dismal January upon us, now is the time that many householders are looking to cheer themselves up – whether booking the Summer holiday, perhaps looking at home improvements or upgrading the car, or indeed looking at anything which involves expenditure.

It would be nice to think that scammers take a rest from their plotting, but sadly that is not the case. So, normal rules apply when looking to recognise a scam –

• Is it too good to be true – for example, a holiday that’s much cheaper than you’d expect
• someone who claims to know you contacting you unexpectedly
• are you actually dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address
• you have been asked to transfer money quickly, often with the suggestion that otherwise you will lose your “bargain”.
• you have been asked to pay in an unusual way – for example, by iTunes vouchers or through a transfer service like MoneyGram or Western Union
• you have been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs
• you have not received any written confirmation of what’s been agreed

The use of the word scam can sometimes make light of an offence, but when we talk of scammers let there be no mistake that what they are doing is committing fraud.

Recently, regulations covering what is known as Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud have formalised what banks and financial institutions must do when consumers are tricked by a criminal into sending money by bank payment to an account that they control and which you do not.

APP covers areas such as –

• purchase fraud, where criminals pretend to sell things that don’t exist.
• impersonation fraud, where criminals claim to be someone from a bank, the police or another trusted organisation to steal money.
• investment fraud, where you’re convinced to move your money into a fictitious fund or to pay for what later turns out to be a fake investment.
• romance fraud, when criminals use a fake dating profile to start a relationship with you and then ask for money.
• invoice fraud, where fraudsters send false invoices.

A guide on APP fraud with the rules on how banks and other payment service providers reimburse victims can be found at the website www.ukfinance.org.uk and a link to it can be found below –

https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/system/files/2024-10/Consumer%20Guide%2020pp%20A5%20Screen%20Reader_14%20October%202024.pdf

However, although consumers have these protections there is also an expectation that they will take all reasonable precautions to protect themselves from becoming a victim of APP fraud by a scammer.

Most of those precautions are as detailed above, but of particular importance are taking heed of the automated bank warnings given in circumstances where consumers are making online payments to someone new.

If you feel you have been scammed, in addition to the above details, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.

Further advice can be obtained by emailing trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk

With Christmas fast approaching, the excitement of finding the perfect toys for children fills the air.

However, while you’re busy contemplating the latest trends and most desired gifts, it’s crucial to prioritize safety. This guide will help you navigate key advice to ensure that your purchases are not only fun but also safe for your little ones.

In the UK, the General Product Safety Regulations 1994 lay the groundwork for ensuring that toys and other products are safe for consumer use. Under these regulations, manufacturers are required to make sure their products are safe before they reach the market. As a shopper, you should look for signs that the manufacturer is compliant with these regulations.

Key things to consider include:

• Product Labels: Ensure the toys come with proper labelling that indicates compliance with safety regulations.
• Safety Warnings: Pay attention to any warnings regarding age suitability. Toys designed for older children may not be safe for younger ones.

Toy Safety Regulations 2011
In addition to the general safety regulations, the Toy Safety Regulations 2011 provide more specific guidelines about toys. These regulations set strict safety standards that all toys sold in the UK must adhere to.

To stay informed, you should look for toys that:

• Meet British or European Standards: If a toy carries the BS EN 71 mark, you can be assured it has passed safety tests specifically designed for toys.
• Have no Small Parts: For children under three, avoid toys with small parts that can present a choking hazard.

This applies to both toys bought in a shop or online

Croydon Trading Standards have received a report that mobile phones are being offered for sale in the car parks of supermarket stores.

A vulnerable elderly person was recently approached in a Sainsburys car park in Croydon and offered a mobile phone. The person was persuaded to withdraw cash from a nearby cash machine to pay for the phone. The phone was unusable. It is highly likely that the phone was stolen.

Trading Standards wish to remind Croydon residents not to engage with people offering phones or any other goods in the street.

If you are approached by somebody trying to sell fake or stolen goods, please contact the Police on 101.

Scams in all forms are becoming ever more sophisticated and devious but my very recent experience was so blatant and challenging that I feel compelled to relay it to our local residents in order to be even more on their guard, particularly as this was very much on our home ground.

A telephone call was made to us by an individual claiming to be a local police officer from Croydon Police Station saying that my husband’s and my credit/debit cards had been targeted/cloned. My husband, who took the call initially, suspected a possible scam but nevertheless checked to see if his cards were still in his possession, as the call was so convincing.

With the caller still on the line I took over and asked exactly who he was. With no hesitation he said he was DC Gilbert from Croydon Police and when I asked for his number he gave it as 7296 PP. He came over as a young man with no accent, confident and authoritative, even to the extent that he immediately corrected me when I thought he said he was a PC!

His manner was aggressive in that I was disbelieving in him as a police officer. He then said to press a number, I think no. 9, on my telephone and then to call 999. (This is an old trick whereby the call is not cut off and the scammer’s associates come into play to confirm that the nature of the call is genuine). At this juncture I confronted the caller by saying I was sure he was a scammer and replaced the ‘phone. I must stress that this was the most blatant and convincing scammer that I have come across.

I did follow up by calling the police 101 number and relayed all this to an officer there in the chance that there was an actual officer with that name and number in existence and that he may have been cloned. This was fully checked out but there was no such police officer within the Met.Police, confirming that it was indeed a scam. I must add that the 101 officer was most grateful for the information as well as being very courteous and reassuring.

These villains don’t care who they target or how it leaves their victims, either by losing often an extortionate amount of money or by being subsequently badly affected emotionally.

Please take care and, I’m afraid, be very much on your guard.

– Joan Pring
(Police Liaison)

REMEMBER:

• Always verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a police officer.
• Never share personal or financial information over the phone.
• Report any suspicious activity immediately.

Report fraud and cyber crime to Action Fraud
Online – actionfraud.police.uk
By phone – 0300 123 2040

Authorised push payment (APP) fraud happens when you are tricked by a criminal into sending money by bank payment to an account that they control and which you do not.

Rules have been set by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), the body that regulates payment systems in the UK – and apply to payments made on, or after 7 October 2024.

Every year thousands of people and businesses are victims of APP fraud. Common types of APP fraud include:

• Purchase fraud – where criminals pretend to sell things or services that do not exist or are not provided.
• Impersonation fraud – where criminals pretend to be from a bank, the police, or another trusted organisation to steal money.
• Investment fraud, where you are convinced to invest in a fake investment.
• Romance fraud, when criminals use fake dating profiles to start a relationship and ask for money.
• Invoice fraud, where fraudsters send false invoices.

There are separate rules for reimbursing unauthorised fraud, including credit and debit card fraud, and you should seek advice in this instance.

Contact your bank or building society immediately if you spot any transactions that you do not recognise or where you believe you have been a victim of APP fraud to enquire about being reimbursed via the APP Reimbursement Rules.

For more information please use the specific link below:
Authorised Push Payment Fraud Reimbursement | UK Finance
UK Finance website: www.ukfinance.org.uk
If you have been scammed or duped into contracting with a business or a trader and parted with money, and require advice, please report to Citizens Advice Consumer Advice Line on 0808 223 1133 or go to the following website to report online:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/