02/06/10…Cold calls from bogus trading standards officer (Status: Press release)

Oxfordshire County Council?s Trading Standards Service is warning businesses and consumers in the county to beware of a new scam, following reports of cold calling from a bogus trading standards officer.

The warning follows a number of enquiries to the service in the last few weeks from concerned consumers and one from an Oxfordshire trader. In all cases, the caller has falsely claimed to be from Trading Standards or the Office of Fair Trading.

BANK CHARGES SCAM

Oxfordshire Trading Standards has received reports of someone falsely claiming to be from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) alleging to be able to claim back money overcharged by banks on their behalf.

In all reported cases, the caller has told the consumers that they would need to verify address and bank details to make the payment and that the bank charges could then be repaid electronically. Those who have stayed on the line have then been told that the OFT would require payment of