29/09/22
Welcome to the latest edition of the Scam Share bulletin.
Stay Scam Aware and please keep sharing any relevant information in this bulletin with friends and family.
Throughout September we are running a campaign to raise awareness of scams connected to the ongoing cost of living crisis.
This week, the focus is on counterfeit goods and online shopping, with a particular focus on counterfeit toys and electrical products. Find out more on our website and watch our new webinars in which we speak to the Intellectual Property Office, Electrical Safety First and Vistalworks about how to spot and avoid dangerous counterfeit toys and electrical products online.
Suspicious Text Messages
If you receive a suspicious text message you can forward it to 7726. The free-of-charge ‘7726’ service enables your provider to investigate and take action if malicious content is found.
Recently Reported Scams
Energy Rebate - Scam Emails
The Scam
Thousands of people have received scam text messages or emails claiming to offer them discounts on energy bills. Most of the messages ask you to click on a link to apply to receive the £400 energy rebate.
Examples of text messages, all of which were received within the last week, are shown to the left.
One woman who received a similar text clicked on the link - she was taken to an official-looking website with Ofgem logos where she was asked to enter her personal and card details.
Some people have also received emails which appear to have been sent by Ofgem or other energy companies and include a link to 'claim your rebate'. In many cases, they say that you have to apply for the rebate by the end of September. This is a clear sign that the message is a scam, as the discount will not be applied until October.
In the two weeks from 22 August to 5 September 2022, a total of 1,567 phishing emails related to the energy rebate were reported via the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS).
Home Energy Scotland have produced a useful article which sets out how you will receive the £400 energy bill discount and how you can avoid scams related to the payment: www.homeenergyscotland.org/energy-bill-400-discount
How to Avoid
You do not need to apply for the £400 energy bill rebate - the money will be applied directly to your energy account, starting in October.
If you receive a text message, email or cold call asking for your details or a payment to 'apply' for the rebate, do not click on any links or provide any details.
Ofgem do not send out this type of communication and do not have the contact details of consumers or energy customers.
They will never ask for your bank details in relation to energy bills. They will never cold call or visit your house and will never ask for your personal information or try to sell you energy.
Kerri Atherton, Head of Public Affairs at the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) has written the following blog about online marketplaces who are toying with children's safety:
Online sales have dramatically increased in recent years. For the UK toy industry, more than half of toy sales are now made online. Unfortunately, not all toys and games seen online meet the necessary safety standards and this is particularly true for those bought by third party sellers via online marketplaces.
Over the last four years at the British Toy & Hobby Association, we have reported unacceptable levels of illegal and unsafe toys being sold via online marketplaces.
Unlike traditional retail, there is no legal requirement for online marketplaces to check the safety of the products that other sellers are listing on their site. Instead, it is left to the individual sellers, who are often based overseas, outside the jurisdiction of UK enforcement – and no one in this supply chain is responsible for checking the safety of a toy before it reaches your home.
With a squeeze on spending and more of us looking for a good deal in the run up to Christmas, it’s important to know of the dangers and the safe places to buy toys. Reputable toy companies invest thousands of pounds to make quality, safe toys for kids to enjoy and play with, but don’t assume just because you can buy something online, that it must be safe.
What to look for when buying online
Be more careful about buying from third-party sellers on online marketplaces – don’t assume that any safety tests have been carried out. Look for sellers you recognise and trust – the toy brand directly or a responsible retailer, or if you purchase from a name you don’t recognise, be more cautious and do more research and checks.
Do some research before you buy – search for the company/brand that makes the toy or character you want to buy and then include the company name when you search the online marketplace.
Be careful of going for the cheapest price – if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Check if there are any age restrictions on the product, such as “not suitable for under 3s” and check that against the image used to sell the product – make sure it is in fact suitable for a toddler and has not small parts that could be swallowed.
Check who the seller is. Look at the address details, see which country they’re based in. Do they have a clear address to return the item if you are unhappy? Do they have a track record of selling the type of item you are buying (and therefore know what the safety requirements are)? Do they have reviews?
Check reviews carefully. Some reviews are fake so look carefully at the comments, are they too good to be true, are there genuine comments about the toy and its features and the buyers experience?
Once you have made your purchase, immediately check your confirmation receipt. Check the source of the product is who you thought you had bought from. If you have bought from a third-party it will be listed on this receipt.
Once you receive your toy, check if it has an EU or UK address, check for a CE or UKCA mark and see if the packaging looks genuine.
When your child opens a toy, stay with them and check for faults, detachable small parts, access to stuffing and loose or accessible batteries or magnets.
If you think the toy you have bought is unsafe or illegal, write a review to warn other purchasers and report it to Advice Direct Scotland
The Scam
According to Electrical Safety First, 1 in 10 people in the UK have experienced an electric shock or fire after buying fake electrical products online.
They are warning that ‘highly dangerous’ devices that claim to help householders save on their energy bills amid the cost of living crisis are now for sale online.
Adverts on online marketplaces for some of the devices claim that they are a way of making savings on energy bills, either by saving energy or “stabilising electrical current”.
However, four of the devices bought by Electrical Safety First failed basic safety standards, with some exploding, risking fire and electric shock.
How to Avoid
If you're worried that an electrical product you have bought might be fake, don't use it.
Electrical Safety First advise that you should know where you're buying from and remember that online marketplaces are not subject to the same regulations as other retailers.
When shopping online, carry out some research before purchasing from sellers or companies you are not familiar with, particularly if they are selling branded goods at prices significantly lower than in official stores.
Electrical Safety First have created a browser extension, 'Check It Out', which is compatible with Amazon and eBay and will remind you when you are not buying directly from the manufacturer or a retailer you know and trust. Download it at www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/check-it-out
This week we have released two new webinars in which we talk to partner organisations about counterfeit goods.
In the first webinar, the Intellectual Property Office and Vistalworks tell us about the dangers of counterfeit toys and provide top tips on how to shop safely for toys online, particularly if you are on a tight budget.
In the second webinar (which will go live at 12.30 on Thursday 29th September) we speak to Electrical Safety First, the Intellectual Property Office and Vistalworks about counterfeit products, with a particular focus on electrical products. They explain the dangers of counterfeit electrical goods and give us their top tips on shopping safely online.
The Scam
Last week, a man from Edinburgh searched for the DVLA website so that he could renew his driving licence. He found a website, which he believed to be legitimate, where he was asked for a payment of £81 to complete an application form.
He then discovered that the DVLA only charge £14 to renew a driving licence online.
The DVLA has warned that thousands of motorists have visited similar copycat websites that charge a premium for services you can get for free or at a much lower cost via official Government websites.
Copycat websites often charge for services which are free through the official website, such as updating your records or checking if a vehicle is taxed. They may also overcharge for services such as renewing or replacing your driving licence.
How to Avoid
Before entering your details or making a payment to the DVLA, check that you are on the official website - the web address should end with GOV.UK
When budgets are tight it can be tempting to click on a social media advert or unfamiliar website offering deals on big brands or in-demand items.
However, online scammers are taking advantage of the cost of living crisis and are setting up fake websites or stores on online marketplaces in an attempt to steal customers' personal and financial details.
If you are buying pre-owned items through online marketplaces, you don’t have the same protection as you do with retailers. Online marketplaces are not responsible for checking that products being sold through their site aren’t counterfeit or dangerous.
Shop Online Safely
Be wary when buying products from unknown websites or sellers, particularly if they are advertised at a price that is significantly cheaper than on official websites.
Pay by credit card or a secure online payment system for stronger protection. Be suspicious if a seller will only accept payment via bank transfer.
Check independent reviews of the seller/store on official websites rather than relying on reviews hosted on the website itself.
Make sure you have contact information for the seller in case something goes wrong. The website should list a valid return address and contact details - be suspicious if a UK website has a returns address overseas and check that the address is listed with Companies House.
Check the site’s return policy and terms and conditions. If buying via an online marketplace, check the site’s advice section to find out what to do if items are faulty or not delivered.
Look out for spelling or grammatical mistakes and poor-quality images – these could mean that a website/store is a scam.
Your consumer rights are generally the same whether you’re shopping on the high street or online. When shopping online, you also have the right to a 14-day cooling off period for most purchases.
You can now visit the Get Safe Online Check a Website page - an easy-to-use online tool which helps you to determine whether a website is likely to be legitimate or a scam before you visit it.
Citizens Advice Scotland have published a wealth of information to help people check how well they are managing their money and what they can do if they have financial issues, such as getting a mortgage, or if they are in debt.
They also have a lot of information on how to get support with the cost of living, with details of how to access help from the government or local council to afford essentials like bills and food.
Their Money Map tool offers support and resources on better budgeting, help with banking and useful tips on how to save money. You can create a personalised list of information that you want to go back to and look at in more detail.
App - short for 'application', refers to a software program for computers or other devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Malware - malicious software that is designed to damage or gain unauthorised access to a computer or other device.
Phishing - the practice of sending fraudulent emails which often appear to be from well-known organisations or companies and ask the recipient to provide personal information or to visit a particular website.
QR Code - a square barcode that a smartphone camera can scan and read to provide quick access to a website or app.
Ransomware - malware that makes data or systems unusable until the victim makes a payment.
Remote Access - the ability to access a computer or device from another location. Anyone with remote access to a device can access all files stored on it.
Smishing - the same as phishing, but carried out via SMS (text) messages rather than emails.
Software - the set of instructions and programs that tells a computer how to operate.
Virus - a computer program designed to infect and damage legitimate software.
Official Contacts
If you feel threatened or unsafe, contact Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
