SCAM LETTER: One Suffolk resident received this scam letter through the post this week, advising them that they are the sole beneficiary of a multi-million-pound estate as a result of a man dying in China, who has the same surname. The letter offers assistance to the recipient in exchange for a share of the proceeds of the estate and provides a personal email for them to make initial contact. It aims to entice vulnerable people to share their bank details and other personal information, and will encourage them to pay out to receive the inheritance. If you respond to the fraudsters, they’ll ask you to pay various fees – for example: taxes, legal fees, banking fees etc. – so they can release your non-existent inheritance. Each time you make a payment, the fraudsters will come up with a reason why the inheritance can’t be paid out unless you make another payment. If you ask, they will also give you reasons why the fees can’t be taken from your inheritance and have to be paid upfront. If you become reluctant to pay a fee or suggest you can’t afford it, the fraudsters will put pressure on you by reminding you how close you are to receiving a sum of money much greater than the fees you’ve already handed over, and of how much you’ve already paid out. 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.
Protect yourself against inheritance fraud:
- Although there are legitimate companies who make a living by tracking down heirs, they don’t do it in this way. If you’re asked for a fee for a report, it’s very likely to be bogus.
- Letters/documents provided by the fraudsters are generally badly written. Look out for spelling mistakes and poor grammar.
- Beware if you are asked to contact a webmail address such as Yahoo or Outlook As a rule, legitimate law firms do not use them.
- A legitimate law firm is highly unlikely to pay out an inheritance to someone who isn’t entitled to it. Any offer of a pay-out indicates that someone is up to no good.
- Fraudsters often claim that the person who has died was the victim of a well-publicised incident, such as a plane crash. To add credibility, they may even use the identity of someone who really did die in the incident.
Report all scams to us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
SCAM CALLER: We have received a report that an elderly resident in Felixstowe, had a knock at their door from someone purporting to be from British Gas. The man was wearing a British Gas jacket and was carrying a British Gas ID card, although this could not be verified. The man spent approximately 20 mins on her doorstep asking questions about her energy usage, and how he could help to cut her bills. The resident became suspicious when the man asked for a bank statement to confirm she was the resident at the property. Bogus callers try to get into your home or obtain personal details by pretending to be someone they’re not, including council staff, charity collectors, meter readers and police officers. In reality, they are criminals trying to steal money and valuables. According to Action Fraud, around £18.7m was lost to doorstep scammers in 2020, but it also believes that many of these offences go unreported. Scammers often target older people for doorstep scams as they are more likely to be at home during the day and scammers might find it easier to intimidate or confuse them. In fact, 85% of victims of doorstep scams are aged 65 and over, according to National Trading Standards.
- Be on your guard. Always be suspicious of anyone turning up at the door uninvited – regardless of their story.
- Check their credentials. You should always check someone's credentials - a genuine person won't mind. You can phone the company they represent or check online, but never used contact details they give you.
- Display a "No Cold Calling" sticker. Email us on tradingstandards@suffolk.gov.uk with your name and address, and we'll send you one out for FREE!
- We would ask that residents stay alert and if you are suspicious of any traders in your area phone Trading Standards on 0808 223 1133.
INLAND REVENUE CALLS: There have been reports received of automated calls claiming to be from the Inland Revenue, with the caller stating that failure to appear at the Magistrates Court will result in the suspension of your National Insurance Number. You are encouraged to call a number to "resolve" the issue. THIS IS A SCAM! Do not telephone the number provided, or provide anyone with your personal details, including your bank or credit card information. HMRC is aware of these automated phone call scams. To help their investigations you should report full details of the scam by email to: phishing@hmrc.gov.uk, including the:
- date of the call
- phone number used
- content of the call
SPOTTING BANK FRAUD: Good habits to help spot banking fraud:
- Check your account regularly for new payees, direct debits and standing orders that you didn’t authorise.
- Check your recent transactions for ones you don’t recognise.
If you don’t recognise transactions, contact your bank immediately and report the issue to the police at Action Fraud on their website or on 0300 123 2040
E-SCOOTERS: Currently in the UK, you can legally buy an e-scooter, but you cannot ride it on a public road, cycle lane or pavement (unless part of a Government approved trial). The only place it can be used is on private land. The reason for this is that e-scooters are treated as motor vehicles by the Department of Transport and are subject to the same legal requirement as other vehicles, such as MOT, licencing, tax and insurance. Because they don’t always have number plates, signalling ability or visible rear lights, they cannot be used legally on the roads. We are raising awareness by providing guidance and information to retailers. Retailers have to disclose information that might affect a consumer's purchasing decision, as such retailers should make it clear to customers that the e-scooter they are purchasing has legal restrictions. National retailers are revising their approach to the sale of e-scooters to promote the responsible and legal usage of e-scooters by advising consumers at every stage of browsing and purchasing e-scooters online and in store.
Steps you could take include;
- Place prominent signage next to e-scooters in stores, clearly explaining the law, including that they are not to be used on public roads
- Provide a clear legal statement on all e-scooter price tickets
- Ensure there is a clear legal statement on all e-scooter warranties
- Ensure your sales staff are trained to explicitly outline the legal position when the customer considers buying an e-scooter (this includes drawing attention to the signage, as well as advising them that failing to adhere to these rules they would face a criminal offence and face prosecution)
- Try to ensure that till rolls and cash registers have pop up warnings to remind staff to again inform customers of the law at the point of sale
- Make sure that all e-scooter product detail pages state it is illegal to use them on a public road, pavement or cycle lane.
TAYTO RECALLS: Tayto Group Ltd is taking the precautionary step of recalling some Mr Porky, Jay’s and The Real Pork Crackling Company products because they might be contaminated with salmonella.
Mr Porky Original Scratchings Pack size 40 & 65g, 6x16.5g, and 5x16.5g Best before All dates up to and including 19 February 2022
Mr Porky Crispy Strips Pack size 35g Best before All dates up to and including 19 February 2022
Mr Porky Crackles Pack size 70g Best before All dates up to and including 19 February 2022
Mr Porky Prime Cut Scratchings Pack size 35g Best before All dates up to and including 19 February 2022
Jay’s Pork Scratchings Pack size 60g Best before All dates up to and including 19 February 2022
The Real Pork Crackling Company Pork Crunch Pack size 30g and 70g Best before All dates up to and including 19 February 2022
If you have bought any of the above products do not eat them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund.