Bromley Neighbourhood Watch- Threats


THREATS Threats can come in a variety of forms, some being relatively inocuous, being more a nuisance than a danger, whilst others may pose a very serious threat in financial terms or may even pose a threat of violence against the person. In this page we do not endeavour to identify every threat that may occur, that would be impossible, but try to draw attention to the type of threat to watch out for and give some examples. A scam is a scheme to con someone out of their cash. Many scams take the form of bogus and fraudulent offers sent by post, telephone or e.mail. The Office of Fair Trading report that every year, three million people fall victim to scams, losing an average of £850 each. Fake lottery and prize draw wins, bogus psychic predictions, get-rich-quick investment cons and 'emiracle' health cures are just some of the tricks scammers try.

Scams: Click here for more details There have been many telephone scams. Sometimes they are very obvious, or "too good to be true" but that is not always the case. Energy Saving Scam: Trading Standards Institute is warning of dangerous energy saving scams targeting the elderly. They are urging consumers to be aware of rogue telephone cold callers offering energy saving devices after receiving hundreds of complaints.up and down the country. People are claiming to be their energy supplier or working in partnership with them, offering a plug in device which they say can save 40 per cent off their energy bills. Trading standards have had a number of the items tested which not only failed to satisfy electrical safety standards but do not deliver any tangible energy savings. (Posted December 2011) Windows Support Centre: This scam, that rears it's head again and again, and can cost the victim an average of £529 according to "Which?" magazine. Householders receive calls out of the blue from a so-called "Windows Support Centre", often sounding like an Indian call centre, who ask if your PC is running slowly, as they have detected a virus on it and would like to help you sort it out. It is a scam. Unpaid Telephone Bill: In another Telephone Scam a 'representative' of BT calls announcing they will disconnect you because of an unpaid bill. Check Your receipts when paying by Credit Card When purchasing with a Credit Card check your till receipt to ensure you have not been charged for "cash-back" that you have not requested and not received.	On-line scams are normally perpetrated through emails to individuals. They can be very convincing and the most effective defence against them is to never trust any email from an unsolicited source. Even those purporting to come from a friend or relative may actually have been sent by a scammer and may contain a computer virus. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) offers much advice on how to recognise scams and how to deal with them. For example: OFT972 gives guidance to carers, etc., on protecting the elderly from being taken in by scams. Though anyone can fall for a scam, the elderly and vulnerable are more likely to be targeted. OFT118a This guide gives you tips on how to go about getting work done on your house. Whether the job is big or small there are certain steps it is advisable to take. Their Consumer Publications List gives excellent advice on recognising and protecting against scams, etc.	Doorstep crime and distraction burglary, is one of the most despised crimes dealt with by the police. The majority of victims are females over the age of 80 years who live alone and, frequently, the stolen property is of low resale value but high sentimental value. Many victims lose their life savings and the detrimental effect on their health is shocking. They will not go out and become isolated in their own homes. The average life expectancy of the victim of distraction burglary is 9 months! Door to door collectors: Door to door collections, such as charities, are not necessarily illegal but be careful, when answering the door, and while some charities do collect door to door, there is no obligation to engage with them. If in doubt, take their name and consult Trading Standards who often know when they are legal callers.. Rogue traders and doorstep callers: If you have been plagued by doorstep sellers, particularly if you have been tricked into having work done that you didn't need,contact:Bromley Trading Standards trading.standards@bromley.gov.uk Telephone: 020 8313 4830 Fax: 020 8313 4450 Address: Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley, BR1 3UH Traders are required to notify householders of a cooling-off period when cold-calling. Ideally work or sales should not take place until the cooling-off period has passed and you have agreed to the contract. Bromley have set up some "No Cold-Calling" zones in the borough to make traders aware that only legitimate businesses are welcome and that their activities are being monitored. They are also looking for well-run trustworthy businesses to join their online Trader Register service. They can help you if you are a Bromley Borough resident; if not, you must contact your local Trading Standards Department through the Trading Standards Institute.