Scam Warning Over ‘Fake Officials’

People in Wrexham are being urged to guard themselves against fake officials after an elderly couple in Buckinghamshire lost £900,000 in scam – involving a bogus trading standards officer.

The pensioners, who had already been fleeced for £300,000 by cowboy roofers, believed their fortunes had changed when the bogus official came calling.

However, the crook, thought to be part of the same gang, tricked them out of a further £600,000 in “up-front fees” with promises to recover the money.

Gary Andrew Booker, 55, of Surrey, was jailed for three-and-a-half years for his part in the crime, earlier in Scams Awareness Month, which ran throughout July.

Other recent cases across the UK include: an 83-year-old woman who was taken for £30,000 by fake police officers; a women who lost £170,000 to conmen posing as trading standards officers; and a number of elderly people who were caught out by crooks who pretended they were NHS workers.

Organisers of Scams Awareness Month, Citizens Advice and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), are citing such cases as a warning to others.

Wrexham Council’s Trading Standards Team is backing the campaign and David Kelly, Lead Member for Place – Planning and Public Protection, said: “As an authority that provides a trading standards function these kind of cases concern us.

“I have been discussing this issue with our Trading Standards Team and whilst there have been no incidents locally of conmen posing as trading standards officers, over the last year or so they have investigated incidents relating to fake officials.”

Wrexham Council provided a list in relation to the above:

• An elderly lady living alone in an affluent area of Wrexham was approached by men purporting to be from the gas board/water board gained entry into her home and whilst distracted by one male, money from her purse was stolen. Police later arrested two men over the incident.
• In an isolated area of Wrexham, a vulnerable man was approached in the day time by men claiming to be Council workers. They told him they needed to clear his path way in his garden as the greenery was obstructing the path. They then demanded payment for this. Council workers all display badges, turn up in council marked vehicles, and would never demand payment.
• A local business decided it would enhance his profit if he purported to be affiliated with Wrexham Council. He used the Wrexham Council logos alongside his own. He later pleaded guilty at Magistrates Court to offences of using this logo and was consequently fined.

Leon Livermore, chief executive of CTSI, said: “All too often criminals pose as charity workers, trading standards officers, government officials and even the police, to gain people’s trust.

“But if a genuine person comes to your door they will be only too happy to wait while you check their identification, or if you tell them to come back another time because you are unsure.”

The campaign is also urging people to follow a simple three-step rule to guard themselves against scams – get advice, report it, and tell others about it.

Advice to guard against doorstep callers:

• Fit and use a door security chain when you open the door.
• Check the identification of a caller by ringing their employer. Use the telephone number from your telephone book and not one they might supply.
• Do not let anyone to carry out work on your house until you get a second opinion and never agree to callers who say “we are only in the area today”.
• Never keep large sums of money in the house and keep purses out of sight, not near the door.
• Get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service 03454 04 05 06 who can provide advice and pass details on to trading standards.
• Report scams or suspected scams to Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040 www.actionfraud.police.uk
• Tell a friend, neighbour or relative about any scams you become aware of.