Bogus calls: We have received a number of reports from residents who have received calls from individuals stating that they are a medical practitioner working in the area, or a local health worker. The caller advises in each case that the resident is entitled to a free medical alert device due to them being over 70 and with health issues. The caller then advises that they need financial details to register the device. As with any telephone call that you receive out of the blue, we urge you to be vigilant and take a moment to stop and think, especially if you receive a request over the phone or e-mail to make a payment from someone claiming to be from a trusted organisation. If you are in any doubt, contact the company or organisation directly using an email or phone number from their official website. Impersonation scams occur when the victim is persuaded to make a payment to a criminal claiming to be from a trusted organisation. This could include the police, a bank, a utility company, or a government department.
Protect yourself against health and medical fraud
With thousands of bogus health products for sale online, the best advice is to proceed with real caution when considering any new medicine or healthcare product. Always talk to your GP or local pharmacist first. They’ll be able to tell you whether the product is safe and effective. If you’re managing a health condition, never stop taking a prescribed medicine, or start taking a new medicine, without speaking to your GP or pharmacist first. Report all scam calls to us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Doorstep sellers: We have received reports of individuals going door to door in and around Brandon this week, offering to clean driveways. Have you been approached? Do you have any details of who they are? Reports we have received suggest that the callers are two men in a van and they have a child accompanying them. The child has been sent to the door to talk to residents, asking if they would like to have their driveway and paving cleaned. Our advice is to never deal with traders on your doorstep. Do your research before agreeing to have any work carried out. Don't be fooled by sign printed vans, glossy leaflets and a website. While it might be tempting to agree to low prices being offered on the doorstep, think twice. Our advice is:
- never agree to have any work done as a result of a cold call, and don't be pressurised into having the job done immediately
- if you think work needs doing to your home, get quotes from 2 or 3 traders. Ask friends and family for recommendations of traders who have carried out work for them. You can also check Suffolk Trusted Trader for traders that have been vetted by us: https://trustedtrader.team/Suffolk/
- ask for the full name and address from a trader before considering dealing with them, and never rely solely on a mobile phone number
- ask for a written quotation detailing all the proposed work and a final price for the job BEFORE the work is started
- only pay once the work is completed to your satisfaction, don't pay up front for materials, don't pay cash
If you have any information, or if you have been approached by doorstep callers, please contact us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Suffolk Trusted Trader is a Trading Standards scheme aimed to help protect residents and stop doorstep crime. It is free to use, so reduce your risk and use a Trusted Trader https://trustedtrader.team/Suffolk/
We’re not used to heatwaves in the UK and other than piling on sun cream, wearing a hat and keeping hydrated, we want to get out there and enjoy the sun while it lasts. But if you have allergies and are prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors (AAI’s) such as EpiPens, temperatures over 25°C and prolonged sun exposure can affect the stability and potency of the adrenaline (epinephrine) and the strength of your AAI may degrade. If a degraded AAI is used, it could result in an under dosage during anaphylaxis.
REMEMBER: Your AAI should always be kept between 15 and 25°C.
So…
- If your AAIs are kept in hot temperatures exceeding 25°C, for an extended period of time, they should be replaced immediately.
- Keep your AAIs covered or in a dark place and make sure so that there is no opportunity for them to be in direct sunlight.
- Never keep AAIs in the car.
- Never refrigerate your AAIs.
- Consider storing your AAIs in an insulated travel bag/pouch/case.
Before you head out this summer, here's your reminder to put that sunscreen on! Did you know sunscreen has an expiry? Look for a M symbol & a number on the bottle. This shows the number of months it will last once opened. The longer a bottle of sunscreen is open, the less effective it is at protecting your skin. If you’re using the same sunscreen from last summer, check that it hasn’t expired before using it.
Would you recognise signs of modern slavery and exploitation? There are lots of signs we can all look out for. Learn more at www.unseenuk.org/about-modern-slavery/spot-the-signs/
Our colleagues at Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards are running a FREE webinar to learn how to stay safe from scams, artificial intelligence (AI) fraud and cybercrime. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/staying-safe-from-scams-artificial-intelligence-ai-fraud-cybercrime-tickets-885487997437
CocoMelon JJ Interactive Learning Dolls have been recalled due to a choking hazard. The product presents a risk of choking as it has been identified that if a child presses the sewn seams of the doll with sufficient force, the seams could give way, providing the child with access to the internal stuffing material. Should the child mouth or swallow the stuffing material, they may choke.
Recall:
CocoMelon JJ Learning Doll
Item: 96112
Barcode Number : 8056379128359
If you own a CocoMelon JJ Interactive Learning Doll please stop using it immediately and return it to the retailer where you purchased it for a full refund of your purchase price.