Residents in the borough are being given sound advice this month, beware of scams that may be taking place in the borough.
Bromley Trading Standards team is issuing advice on how to avoid being caught out by unscrupulous offers as part of the Office of Fair Trading’s national awareness campaign.
Cllr. Neil Reddin, Bromley Council's Executive Councillor for Community Safety and Leisure and Chair of the Safer Bromley Partnership, said: “If we can help protect residents by raising their awareness of scams we can hopefully prevent them losing their money to these criminals.”
How to recognise a scam - is it too good to be true?
The Con
How scam artists succeed - they will:
- catch you unawares, contacting you, without you asking them to, by phone, email, post or sometimes in person;
- sound pleasant, well spoken and kind (on the phone or at your door) and want you to think they're your friend;
- have slick, professional leaflets and letters;
- be persistent and persuasive;
- rush you into making a decision;
- ask you to send money before you receive their tempting offer or win.
New scams from the UK and overseas appear every day - so it's important to know how to spot them.
The Pitch
They will offer you something for nothing - such as:
- you've won a major prize in a draw or a lottery (even though you haven't entered one);
- an exclusive entry to a scheme that's a surefire way to make money;
- a way to earn easy money by helping them get untold millions out of their country;
- the chance to join an investment scheme that will make you huge amounts of money.
There are hundreds of examples but we can all protect ourselves by being sceptical. Is it likely that someone you don't know, who has contacted you out of the blue, will give you something for nothing?
The Sting
They'll ask you to:
- send money up front - an administration fee or tax, the list is endless but it's always a ruse to get you to give them money;
- give them your bank, credit card or other personal details;
- ring an expensive premium rate number (all UK premium rate numbers start with 090);
- buy something to get your prize.
They will lie to you and give you what seem to be good reasons why you should do what they say. They will answer all your objections.
Don't send any money or give any personal details to anyone until you've checked that they are genuine, and talked to a professional or family and friends.
If they ask you to do any of these things they're trying to cover their tracks and get your money and it's likely to be a scam.
Bromley Trading Standards advise you to report any scams in the local area to Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 and they will give you clear and practical consumer advice. They will also forward any serious scams or breaches of criminal legislation to Bromley Trading Standards for further investigation.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The Safer Bromley Partnership is committed to continuously improving safety in Bromley. We want a borough where people can live, work, play and learn safely. Our members include Bromley Council, Bromley Police, Health, Probation, Fire and London Ambulance Services, the Metropolitan Police Authority and Broomleigh Housing Association.
- For media enquiries, please contact Susie Clark, Communications Officer, on 020 8461 7911, or email susie.clark@bromley.gov.uk