Herefordshire Trading Standards

Stop Rogue Trading and Doorstep Crime in Herefordshire

Our focus is on protecting residents in Herefordshire who may find themselves being targeted by scammers and rogue traders. The intention is to raise awareness within the community relating to the most common practices whilst also providing materials so that those same residents feel empowered to reject any approaches from potential rogues. 

Once Trading Standards receive sufficient intelligence we are then able to take the necessary enforcement action.

Our work and what we would like to draw to people's attention:-

• We want to help residents identify scams and rogue traders.
• To provide advice on how to protect you and your loved ones from rogue trading and fraud.
• Initiate No cold calling zones.
• Reveal Suckers lists.
• Identify Mass marketing fraud.
• Encourage people to use the Herefordshire Trader Register.
• Stamp out Doorstep selling.
• Identify potential victims of scams and advise them how to report the information to Trading Standards.
• Widely distribute Trading Standards advice leaflets and cards.

A Local case study:

Mr G lives with his wife at their address near the centre of Hereford. Over a 5-10 year period Mr G was targeted by scammers who sold him financial investments which didn’t exist, conned him into sending money to bogus prize draws and entering fake foreign lotteries.

The scammers were so convincing Mr G gave over £50,000 of the couple’s life savings to them. He was told by scammers that the details were completely confidential and not to discuss the matters with anybody. Therefore Mr G hid everything from his wife (who is a dementia sufferer) family members and all other agencies, nobody was aware of the problem.

Recently Trading Standards acquired a “suckers list” full of names and addresses that the scammers trade amongst themselves on the black market so they know who to target and exploit. On the list were the details of Mr G and his wife. Trading Standards were able to contact Mr G and his family to highlight the extent of the problem.

Mr G’s family and Trading Standards are now in regular contact and have put various measures in place to protect him from falling victim to scams and giving away his entire life savings to fraudsters. The intervention has saved Mr and Mrs G around £1,500 per month.

Many victims like Mr G are brainwashed into thinking they are due to win huge sums of money and are told by the scammers not to tell anyone until the money is released. Victims therefore continually hide the problem which makes detection extremely hard.

Even when family members or friends become aware of the problem and try to advise the victim they still refuse to accept they are being scammed. It’s only when intervention from Trading Standards occurs that the victim starts to understand they are being scammed and successful measures can be put in place to combat the problem.

The stats that show the problem:

• Each year in the UK up to £5 billion is lost to fraudsters.
• Less than 1 in 10 scams are reported to Trading Standards.
• There are over 500 known individuals in Herefordshire who have been placed on “suckers lists” and are being targeted each day.
• Consumers in Herefordshire are losing well over £1 million per year to fraudsters.

Contact us

If anyone suspects a scam victim they should be report the information to Trading Standards directly on 01432 261761.