Trading Standards work with the National Trading Standards Scams team offer up-to-date advice about scams.
We promote the Friends Against Scams initiative to help prevent people from becoming victims of scams.
Anyone wanting to report a scam should contact trading standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on telephone: 0808 223 1133 or via the Citizens Advice website.
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Fraud awareness
Please be careful before handing over any money, especially if the person is not known to you.
Be aware of fraudsters who may be sending emails, letters, texts or making telephone calls promising to make you rich, save you money and solve problems you didn’t even know existed.
They might also send communications supposedly from your bank asking you to change passwords or transfer money, inviting you to take part in fake lotteries or investment opportunities, offering to fix problems which don’t exist with your computer and creating fake profiles on dating sites and apps to trick you into sending money
Some fraudsters visit in person and offer household repairs perhaps to trim your garden, clean your driveway or gutters or repair your roof. Once engaged, they may pretend they’ve found other more serious problems they can fix, or increase the price and become threatening when it comes to payment. The workmanship is often poor.
Other fraudsters make websites that look like legitimate organisations or companies but are not. So for example, you think you are paying your tax return to HMRC or contacting DVLA for a driving licence or renewing your TV Licence but you are not. Others give quotes which seem good value at first, but the products may not emerge or may not be what you thought. A more recent trend is to pretend government grants are available on products which may reduce your energy bills, but there is no such grant and they’re simply quoting way more and offering a pretend discount.
There are unfortunately many more examples, and new tricks emerging all the time.
Fraud and scams awareness good practice tips:
- be suspicious about any email, telephone calls or visits you receive out of the blue, especially if anyone is asking you for money or personal information
- before making any purchases or giving out personal information, do your research – simply entering the business name and/or telephone number into a search engine will often show feedback from other customers. Or ask a friend or family member what they think of what you’re being offered if you can
- be suspicious of anyone who wants you to make an immediate purchase – most genuine traders will be happy to let you think about it
- if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is
Business scams
Traders should be wary of anyone offering assistance. In particular, please be wary of anyone offering grants or financial help.
Be cautious of any unexpected calls, specifically any that request immediate payments you do not recognise or requests for your card or bank details.
Be suspicious of any unexpected emails. Check that the sender has a gov.uk email address. If you suspect that the email is fraudulent do not click any links or open any attachments.
Anyone wishing to report a scammer should contact Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline, telephone: 0808 223 1133.
Any traders wishing to diversify into new trading areas, who would like advice, can contact Public Protection by email: public.protection@york.gov.uk.
National Trading Standards also have a number of resources to help protect ‘Businesses Against Scams'.
Business grants
We use strict 'audit and anti-fraud' processes when processing business grants, to verify bank details, make swift payments, and avoid fraudulent applications.
We'll quote your eForm reference number, so you'll know any correspondence is from the council.
Garden waste scams
Beware of traders who telephone or door knock offering to remove your garden waste.
Anyone offering to dispose of garden waste must hold a Commercial Waste Carriers Licence (provided by the Environment Agency). Without one they cannot legally dispose of any waste at our waste and recycling centres, meaning they may illegally fly tip or burn it, creating a nuisance.
For further help or to report a complaint of this sort please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on telephone: 0808 223 1133.