Kent County Council Trading Standards are warning the public to be aware of a bogus ‘Trading Standards Officer’ who has recently called at a resident’s home in Kent. The criminal claimed that he had received the resident’s money from a recent court case and in order to retrieve the money the resident must pay a release fee of £10,000.Trading Standards Officers would never contact residents and ask them to hand over money, or transfer money into another person’s bank account.
If you receive a phone call or a visit from someone claiming to be from Trading Standards and asking for money, please call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 or the Police on 101.
Some safety advice for residents to guard against possible distraction Burglaries:-
• Lock your back doors and windows before answering your front door – thieves are known to work in pairs, one entering through the back door while the other knocks at the front.
• Use a spyhole and ask who the caller is through the door first, then keep the door on the chain.
• Check their identification, even if they have a pre-arranged appointment.
• If you’re not expecting the caller and they do not carry an ID card, do not let them in.
• To check a caller is genuine, you can look up the number in the phone book or a recent bill and check it against the card the caller has given you.
• Don’t just ring the number on the card – it may be fake.
• If you have any doubts about whether the caller is genuine, ask them to leave and come back at a time convenient to you and when you’ve had a chance to ask someone to be with you.
• Never leave your front door unattended. If you need to get something, close the door until you return.
Dealing with unexpected visitors
Do your elderly parents, neighbours or friends worry about bogus callers? Would they know what to do if an unexpected visitor calls?
You can support them by visiting…
www.kent.police.uk/advice/bogus-callers-and-rogue-traders/
…for tips on protecting your home and what to do if someone unexpected stops by.