Latest scam alerts from Norfolk C.C.

[Victors Mate]

Latest scam alerts from Norfolk C.C.

some new some "old favourites".

Safety Alert – Illegal vodka brand ‘Drop Vodka’ 25 November 2011
Norfolk Trading Standards are warning consumers about an illegal brand of vodka called Drop Vodka which has been discovered on sale in several UK cities. Trading Standards has also received reports that the product has been on sale in Norwich.
Consumers are advised not to purchase or drink the vodka because it is not registered by any company in the UK and could be harmful.
Tests carried out by other local authorities have identified substances that could harm people’s health. Other tests have found that the product does not contain enough alcohol to legally be called vodka.
Pictures of the two types of Drop Vodka, one labelled ‘bottled in Italy’ and one labelled ‘bottled in France’ are pictured below.

If consumers see any bottles of Drop Vodka on sale in shops or pubs in Norfolk they should contact Norfolk Trading Standards through Consumer Direct via their online form or by calling 08454 04 05 06.
National Consumer Week 21 – 25 November

How to avoid scams – 18 November 2011
• Be on your guard. If it seems to be ‘too good to be true’ it probably is!
• Report scams to Consumer Direct via their online form or call 08454 04 05 06
• You can also report scams to Action Fraud, the UK’s National Fraud Reporting Centre via their online fraud reporting tool or call 0300 123 2040
• Never send money upfront. If you do, you will be bombarded with further scams because they will add your name to a ‘sucker list’.
• If you have paid money you are unlikely to get it back but might be covered for fraud if you used a debit or credit card. Contact your bank for details.
• Cut out junk mail and calls by registering with the Mail Preference or Telephone Preference Services. To reduce sale emails register with the e-Mail Preference Service. These services are free, visit www.mpsonline.org.uk
• If you receive a scam mailing ignore it and throw it away.

London 2012 Fake Tickets and Websites – 17 November 2011
There have been a number of fraudulent companies / individuals contacting consumers over the internet, usually directly by emails. A current list of these is available on-line at the London 2012 website: www.london2012.com
o Do not buy tickets from an unauthorised ticket reseller, you may pay your money and not get any tickets in exchange. Check you are using an Authorised Ticket Reseller at www.london2012.com/about-this-website/s ... online.php
o Watch out for Scam emails, again on the above site there is a list of the current and past scams that have been reported to the London 2012 organisation.
If you are contacted over the internet by an organisation or individual about the 2012 Olympics, offering you tickets or inviting you to gain from involvement in the Olympics, please take steps to ensure that they are legitimate. The London 2012 Olympic body will not be asking individuals to pay for goods or services, whether directly or through agents and you will not have been entered into any prize draw or have won a cash prize.
Such emails are likely to be headed with the Olympic symbols and will look authentic. Scammers are using the opportunity of the 2012 Olympics to try to steal money from your bank account, your confidential details or infecting your computer with a virus that will register your key strokes to steal your passwords.
Always make sure your computer has a current updated antivirus programme, with spyware filters and an effective firewall.
If you have any doubts regarding any contact, get in touch with London 2012 directly before releasing any money or personal information, to ensure that the other party are legitimate.
All official London 2012 Volunteer and Supporter emails are always sent from one of the following email addresses:
support@communicate.london2012.com
volunteers@communicate.london2012.com

Good Sports Don’t Fake It!!! – 17 November 2011
Trading Standards officers in Norfolk are urging consumers to check, double check and check again to stay safe from fraudsters exploiting one of the country’s favourite pastimes – sports.
The drive is part of the annual National Consumer Week taking place 21 – 25 November 2011, backed by Olympian Tessa Sanderson. The theme this year is Good Sports Don’t Fake It.
Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson said “It’s so important to make sure that the goods we buy online and elsewhere are the real deal. Buying counterfeit goods is like throwing your money down the drain and only serves to fund the illegal activities of the criminals behind the scams.
London 2012 has licensed the production of 2012 merchandised goods to a number of approved manufacturers. All licensed products will have a secure label attached in the form of an individually numbered hologram. These are normally 20mm x 20mm with the number configuration of 2 letters and 8 digits running down the side. The London 2012 logo appears as a 3D stereogram at the centre of the hologram. (see attached hologram)
HOLOGRAM
Clothing is likely to account for the majority of counterfeited items based around the Olympics. The licensee for 2012 clothing is Adidas and all clothing will be this brand, with each item bearing the numbered security hologrammed label.
The Good Sports Don’t Fake It campaign is putting the spotlight on some of the fakes and scams and is giving consumers a CHECK list to stay safe:
C Choose your shopping outlets and websites carefully
H Help yourself. If the deal is too good to be true then it probably is
E Ensure you look for authentic branding and holograms
C Contact the authorities if you are concerned
K Keep a copy of your order and receipts
If you are offered any Olympic branded items that do not have the above security marks, report it to your local Trading Standards authority or Police.
If you wish to report a scam or obtain further advice please contact Consumer Direct via their online form or by telephone 08454 04 05 06.
Olympic Lottery Scams – 17 November 2011
Proceeds from UK National Lottery are providing a considerable amount of funding for the 2012 Olympics.
This funding is distributed by the Olympic Lottery distributor.
If you receive any form of correspondence saying that you have won prize money from the Olympic Lottery Distributor, it will be a SCAM and should be ignored. The distributor does not award prizes.
The usual advice applies here: If you have not entered a competition, you will not have won a prize.
To report a scam or obtain further advice please contact Consumer Direct via the online form or phone 0845 04 05 06

London 2012 Fake Travel / Accommodation Packages – 17 November 2011
If you are travelling to the London 2012 games and want to buy a package including tickets, the only way to buy official hospitality and travel packages for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games is through the official London 2012 hospitality service providers.
Full details can be found at London 2012 Website.
Lottery Prize Draw Scam – 14 November 2011
Norfolk Trading Standards often receives complaints about lottery prize scams. Residents may receive a telephone call, letter or email stating that they have won a lottery prize and they will usually be asked to pay a fee to receive a cheque for their prize. A legitimate lottery would never make you pay to receive your prize and if you haven’t entered into a lottery then you won’t be eligible to win one. Unfortunately, once someone has been targeted and has lost money to a scam their details get sold on which means they are inundated by scam mailings and calls.
For further advice on scams contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06
Reducing Unwanted Mail – 4 November 2011
DEFRA is working on a new initiative with the Direct Marketing Association seeking to reduce the amount of unwanted mail households receive, as the UK aims for a zero-waste economy Households should find it easier to prevent unwanted junk mail from being posted through their letterbox when a website launches in April.
For more information see: DEFRA aim to clean up junk mail
'Postal Scam' Hoax E-mail – Update 4 November 2011
PhonepayPlus issued a statement in October 2011 about the chain email concerning an alleged postal scam which is being circulated on the internet. For more information go to:
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/News-And ... ement.aspx
Illegal Fireworks 3 November 2011
Suffolk Trading Standards have issued a warning about illegal, counterfeit and banned fireworks available in the UK.
For more information see: Safety concern over Illegal Fireworks
Digital Switchover - 2 November 2011
Areas of Norfolk served by the Tacolneston transmitter or smaller relay masts, begin the switchover on 9 November 2011.
Stage 1: On 9 November BBC Two will go to digital and some new digital channels become available.
Stage 2: On 23 November all the remaining analogue channels will switch to digital and the remaining digital channels will become available.
For more information and to find out if you are eligible for help go to: www.digitaluk.co.uk
Facebook Gift Card Scam – 1 November 2011

Facebook has started to warn its users about links from your friends and fan pages, for free gift cards as they are scams attempting to get your personal details.

The situation is often the same; a friend will post on your wall for an amazing free gift card offer for a company like Argos, Starbucks or Ikea. The consumer is then forwarded to a third party site, where they are asked to enter some personal details to get access to the gift card.

In some cases the "friend" that writes on your wall, has had their Facebook account hacked in to. And this is what causes these "spam" messages to appear from your friends. Do not click on unusual or suspicious links, even if they appear to come from someone you know.

Facebook is working to closing down these spam sites as quickly as possible. Facebook Security advises "Watch out for suspicious offers for free gift cards," the site warns.”We've been removing groups and Pages that promise free gift cards but instead trick people into entering information or spamming their friends. If you come across one, report it to us immediately."
Electric Blanket Testing - 25 October 2011
Norfolk County Council Trading Standards are holding Electric Blanket Testing Events from the 31 October to 4 November. There are still some places available for blankets to be tested with the exception of the Norwich event.
For more details of venues, drop off points and how to book see: http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/News
Ticket Scams - 20 October 2011
A new logo has been launched by STAR (Society of Ticket Agencies and Retailers) to help consumers avoid scam sites. For more information see;
Postal Scam' Hoax E-mail – 19 October 2011
An e-mail warning of a 'postal scam' has been circulating amongst consumers in Norfolk. The message is about a company (PDS) sending cards suggesting that they are unable to deliver a parcel and to call them on a premium rate telephone number. The e-mail asks the recipient to forward it on.
This e-mail is a hoax 'chain letter' and been circulating for at least three years, and does not describe a new fraud. If you receive a copy, please do not forward it. There is also no need to report it to anyone.
If you receive any e-mail which asks you to forward it on, it is almost certainly a 'chain letter'. These e-mails are a nuisance, they can waste time, they can cause congestion on the internet, and sometimes they are used in an attempt to spread computer viruses. They often contain bogus or misleading warnings, false opportunities to make money or false charitable appeals. Chain e-mails should always be deleted and not forwarded.
If you are tempted to think that the warning may be genuine or urgent, there are many websites which identify and analyse common hoaxes and 'urban legends'. If you enter a phrase or name from the email into a good search engine, you will probably find numerous references confirming it as a hoax or a chain