The Office of Fair Trading have released details of a couple of scams which have come to their attention:

IT suppliers telephone calls
 
The Office of Fair Trading is advising individuals and businesses to be very wary if they receive telephone calls out of the blue from callers claiming to represent IT suppliers.
 
The Office has recently been contacted by several people who have received calls saying that they are aware that the individuals have been experiencing problems with their computers and offering to carry out a “repair service”.
 
Although legitimate companies may contact customers by telephone, it is important to make checks on the company before agreeing to any services they offer:-
 
•         Don't feel obliged to continue with the conversation – put the phone down.
•         If you carry on with the call, advise the caller that you do not wish to make an immediate decision.  Tell them you will contact them should you decide to take up their offer.
•         Ask for full contact details, including a telephone number.  Be wary of a company which only provides a mobile phone number.
•         Put the company's name into an internet search engine to see what you can find out, but don't be fooled by professional-looking websites as scammers are good at making their scams look authentic.
•         If the company claims to be based in the UK, check with Companies House (www.companieshouse.gov.uk) to make sure that it is correctly registered.
•         Do not provide any financial details until you have taken the above steps and decided to accept the offer - in particular your credit or debit card details as these transactions can be difficult to cancel with your bank.
•         Check with your own IT support or someone you know if you are worried.
 
You may find it useful to ask for your name to be removed from telemarketing lists.  To reduce the number of telephone calls you get, you should contact the Telephone Preference Service, telephone 0845 070 0707 or visit its website www.tpsonline.org.uk.
 
Bogus Parcel Delivery Cards
 
The Office is reminding everyone that a chain email which is circulating and warning about a postal scam that could leave you ?315 out of pocket  is a hoax.
 
The hoax email reads:
 
"Can you circulate this around especially as Xmas is fast approaching - it has been confirmed by Royal Mail. The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the following scam:

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate number).
 
DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize. If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed ?315 for the phone call.
If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 020 7239 6655."
 
If you receive this email just delete it and do not to forward it to anyone.
 
Some scams are easily recognisable, but many look legitimate and are very convincing.  Fraudsters over the years have realised that the more professional and sophisticated they make their communications, the more people will be drawn in by them.
 
How can you prevent yourself becoming a victim?  The main thing to remember is - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
 
Protect your information - never give your personal information, bank account or card details to someone you aren’t satisfied is legitimate.