Credit card scam rife across region
Saturday, 21st July 2001.
An urgent warning has been issued this week by Trading Standards in Suffolk regarding a new credit card scam that is rife within the region.
This week Suffolk County Council's Trading Standards advice line has received numerous calls from worried residents who have received foreign calls attempting to deceive them and the Council is warning that it is possible that anyone living in the area is likely to receive a call in the next few days.
The calls come from a company based in America that goes under a variety of different names many of which relate to bogus holiday or travel firms. As they are based outside the European Union they are not covered by the same laws and restrictions on data protection as resident companies are.
The rogue company asks residents to confirm four of the digits from their credit card. They use various ploys to get people to divulge this information from posing as agents of the credit card firm to claiming that the customer has already placed an order with the company and payment confirmation is now needed.
A common feature of this scam is the offer of holiday or cruise discounts. The resident is offered a brochure with 21 days to cancel and a full refund. However, regardless of whether they agree or not they are automatically sent a brochure which invariably arrives after the 21-day limit and their account is debited to the tune of £100.
If the scam has occurred with a debit card for example Solo or Visa Electron there is little way to reclaim any money lost other than to write to the firm asking for the amount to be refunded. Your bank may then advise you to cancel your debit card to prevent the company transferring any more funds.
If the fraudsters have access to your credit card, then attempts can be made through the card providers to stop any transactions already made.
Advice from Trading Standards officers is:
* Never give you credit card debit card or bank details to anyone who cold calls on the telephone.
* If you receive a brochure return it along with a letter stating that you have not agreed to the offers or the payment.
* If you think you have fallen victim to this scam, you should either call your bank immediately to cancel your debit card or the credit card provider to cancel the transaction
Condemning the scam, Peter Monk, member of Suffolk County Council's executive committee said:
"It is outrageous that a company can obtain financial details from innocent residents and then clean-out their accounts. We urge people never to give their credit or debit card details to cold callers on the telephone. Remember, your bank details are private and once you've revealed them you've given the green light to these rogues.
"If you have any doubts about these callers or any sales over the telephone call the Trading Standards advice line on 01473 584358 for advice on your individual case. The more information we have on these fraudsters the better the chance of the Office of Fair Trading, being able to take action with their American counterparts on these firms."
This week Suffolk County Council's Trading Standards advice line has received numerous calls from worried residents who have received foreign calls attempting to deceive them and the Council is warning that it is possible that anyone living in the area is likely to receive a call in the next few days.
The calls come from a company based in America that goes under a variety of different names many of which relate to bogus holiday or travel firms. As they are based outside the European Union they are not covered by the same laws and restrictions on data protection as resident companies are.
The rogue company asks residents to confirm four of the digits from their credit card. They use various ploys to get people to divulge this information from posing as agents of the credit card firm to claiming that the customer has already placed an order with the company and payment confirmation is now needed.
A common feature of this scam is the offer of holiday or cruise discounts. The resident is offered a brochure with 21 days to cancel and a full refund. However, regardless of whether they agree or not they are automatically sent a brochure which invariably arrives after the 21-day limit and their account is debited to the tune of £100.
If the scam has occurred with a debit card for example Solo or Visa Electron there is little way to reclaim any money lost other than to write to the firm asking for the amount to be refunded. Your bank may then advise you to cancel your debit card to prevent the company transferring any more funds.
If the fraudsters have access to your credit card, then attempts can be made through the card providers to stop any transactions already made.
Advice from Trading Standards officers is:
* Never give you credit card debit card or bank details to anyone who cold calls on the telephone.
* If you receive a brochure return it along with a letter stating that you have not agreed to the offers or the payment.
* If you think you have fallen victim to this scam, you should either call your bank immediately to cancel your debit card or the credit card provider to cancel the transaction
Condemning the scam, Peter Monk, member of Suffolk County Council's executive committee said:
"It is outrageous that a company can obtain financial details from innocent residents and then clean-out their accounts. We urge people never to give their credit or debit card details to cold callers on the telephone. Remember, your bank details are private and once you've revealed them you've given the green light to these rogues.
"If you have any doubts about these callers or any sales over the telephone call the Trading Standards advice line on 01473 584358 for advice on your individual case. The more information we have on these fraudsters the better the chance of the Office of Fair Trading, being able to take action with their American counterparts on these firms."
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