Are you being used?
Whether applying for full time work, or a part time role perhaps reflecting age or parental responsibilities, employment websites – such as Indeed and LinkedIn – are very popular. They allow you, from the comfort of your home, to place your CV or personal details on internet job sites, so that potential employers can see them and, hopefully, offer you a job.

However, fraudsters are always lurking – and job scams are more common than you might think. Recent data from Ofcom shows that of 43 million adults who have encountered scams or fraud online, 30% have come across fake employment scams.

These scams may come in two forms – someone purporting to be from the business contacts you to acknowledge your application; or someone claiming to be from a recruitment agent contacts you to say they are considering you for another position.

In the former, the person may tell you that the job you are now being considered for is different to the one you applied for. In the latter, the job you are being offered probably does not exist.

In either case, you will be invariably asked to divulge personal information including your bank details. You may be asked to pay initial application fees, with further payments for supposed travel or accommodation related to the promised employment.

So, if you are –

• contacted by someone claiming to be an employer’s agent offering you a new job; or
• asked to fill out a questionnaire or to give them personal information about yourself over the phone; or
• asked to give money to them as an administration fee…

think very carefully as you may become a potential victim of employment fraud.

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

To report a suspected crime, or if you have fallen victim to fraud or cyber-crime, contact Action Fraud via its website or by calling 0300 123 2040

We have been made aware that possible Rogue Traders are cold calling in the Coulsdon area, knocking on doors and handing out leaflets regarding paving.

Please DO NOT engage or use the services of anyone who cold calls at your door asking if you want work done.

If you require a trader, please look at the following Approved Trader Schemes:
Trust Mark – www.trustmark.org.uk/find-a-tradesman – 0333 555 1234
Buy With Confidence – www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk – 01392 383 430
Which? Trusted Traders – http://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/ – 0117 405 4689

For further information please see the Croydon Trading Standards web link below:
https://www.croydon.gov.uk/advice/tstandards/busadvice/taschemes

ALWAYS get several quotes in writing from several traders before having any work done. Ensure it includes a breakdown of costs of labour and materials before having any work done.

Ensure you have time to think about the quote before you allow them to start any work.

If you have been scammed or duped into contracting with a business or a trader, 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/

Inheritance fraud is when you are told that someone very rich has died and you’re in line to receive a huge inheritance.

Usually, a fraudster claiming to be a lawyer or some other legal official overseas sends you an email or a letter telling you that a person sharing your family name has died and left behind a vast amount of money.

They are administering the inheritance and have been unable to identify any of the dead person’s relatives so the money will go to the government. However, because you have the same family name as the deceased, the fraudster suggests that they can pay you the inheritance and you could split the money between you instead; emphasising the need for secrecy and to act quickly.

However, there is no inheritance, it is a fraud!

If you respond to the fraudsters, they’ll ask you to pay various fees – eg taxes, legal fees, banking fees etc. – so they can release your non-existent inheritance. Each time you pay, they will ask you for further payments to release the non-existent inheritance, giving reasons why the fees must be paid upfront. Reluctance to pay is responded to with reminders of how the inheritance is so much more than the fees being paid.

The fraudsters may also ask for your bank details so they can pay the inheritance directly into your bank account. But, if you hand over your bank details, the fraudsters can use them to empty your account.

Croydon Trading Standards have received a report of a resident who has fallen victim to such a scam. Contacted by fraudsters claiming to be in America, she was told that her late husband had left a huge inheritance in the USA bequeathed to her, but that she would need to pay various fees in order to release the money to be paid to her.

Her husband had never been to the USA. It is thought that she may have sold her home to cover the various payments that she has been asked for, which so far are understood to amount to over £100,000.

Preying on people’s vulnerabilities and current hardship, this type of fraud is very real and really does happen.

If you become aware of or think that someone has fallen victim to inheritance frauds, please report the matter to the Citizen’s Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 (Minicom users should call on 08451 281384) 09:00 – 17:00 Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.

Don’t be taken for a mug!

With days to go until the coronation of King Charles III, Croydon Trading Standards are warning consumers to be wary of those who are looking to capitalise on the event.

Scammers and fraudsters are very adept at adapting their techniques to particular events and the Coronation is proving to be no different. Websites selling commemorative items such as mugs, plates and coins other coronation memorabilia, will often deliver sub-standard items or nothing at all.

Many of these websites are also insecure, meaning any data entered into them – such as credit or debit card information, addresses and usernames – can be easily harvested and sold onto third parties who will target individuals in the future.

Consumers are advised to stick to official merchandise sites, but even those can be impersonated by fraudsters, so check things such as fonts, grammar and spelling. Basic mistakes will often be a clear sign of a scam. Look also for a padlock symbol in your browser’s address bar – if one is not present, that clearly suggests issues with the website.

It is also important to be aware of phishing emails; if sent an email with a link to a shop, a simple way to avoid getting caught out is to copy and paste it into a web browser to help you identify if it is fake.

If in any doubt about the legitimacy of an email, contact the alleged sender directly but do not use any numbers or addresses in the email – search for the organisation online and contact it directly using the details on its website.

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

To report a suspected crime, or if you have fallen victim to fraud or cyber-crime, contact Action Fraud via its website or by calling 0300 123 2040

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) operates a phishing email reporting service, which can be reached by forwarding any suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk

If you get an Emergency Alert on your phone tomorrow (April 23), you’ll hear a loud, siren-like sound. A message on your screen will tell you about the emergency and how best to respond. You’ll be able to check an alert is genuine and opt out at gov.uk/alerts

Please be aware that it is anticipated that criminals may seek to take advantage of this and may use the test to try and trick phone users into handing over personal data.

It is vital that you are aware no action is required if you receive the alert with regards to handing over information, downloading any app, or sending any information.

Reporting scam calls and texts is easy using the 7726 service which most major providers are signed up too.

• To report a scam text you copy the content of the text and start a new message to 7726, paste in the content and send the message. The service will then reply to you asking for the number the message was sent from. You copy and paste the number or manually type it in and send it as a message.
• To report a scam call number you just need to copy the number, put it into a text writing ‘Call’ before you put the number in and send it to 7726.