News Archive - 2017

Directors jailed for £300k plus claims scam

TWO company directors have each been jailed for three years after admitting a £300k plus claims scam involving fake compensation claims for mis-sold solar panels.

Criminal record checks fraudster sentenced

Man sentenced to five years and ten months for fraudulent business

National Trading Standards statement - secondary ticketing

Christmas shoppers forgo online safety checks

Concerns that Brits could put themselves at risk of online fraud this Christmas

National Trading Standards prevents £127 million in consumer losses

National Trading Standards (NTS) prevented nearly £127 million in losses to consumers and businesses over the last year, new figures from the third annual Consumer Harm Report reveal. This represents an increase of more than a third on last year and takes the total losses prevented by NTS over the last three years to nearly half a billion pounds (over £471 million).

Company director receives suspended prison sentence in unfair home improvement sales case

Today (Friday 3rd November) at Hull Crown Court Mohammed Usman (age 36) of Highfield Lane, Keighley was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years and ordered to pay £39,752 compensation to his customers and £17,778.59 prosecution costs.

Company boss facing prison after conning businesses into thinking cash was for emergency services

William Stringfellow, 51, of Killins Lane in Shotton, was convicted of conspiring to defraud at Mold Crown Court today (25th October). Stringfellow, who was the brains behind a company that conned businesses into believing it was a charity donating money to the emergency services, has been warned that he faces prison.

Criminals sentenced in copyright infringement cases

Two men have been sentenced today at Teesside Crown Court after pleading guilty to charges relating to the sale of IPTV boxes which allowed people to illegally stream subscription content, infringing the rights of copyright holders. The convictions follow an investigation led by National Trading Standards.

Police day of action after victims report losing over £59m to Binary Options fraud

Action Fraud reports show that Binary Options fraud is a growing problem. In just the first half of 2017, 697 people reported to have lost over £18 million. The day of action used Operation Broadway tactics, mostly visiting businesses occupying serviced offices and reviewing their compliance documents.

Brothers sentenced for computer repair scam

Two brothers who ran a computer repair scam across England and Wales were sentenced to a total of four and a half years at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (6th October). This sentencing follows a lengthy investigation led by the National Trading Standards Central England Regional Investigations Team.

Ten years jail total for mother and son’s vacuum servicing fraud

A mother and son who ran a company that fraudulently serviced Dyson vacuums have been sentenced at Leeds Crown Court today (25 September) for a total ten years for conspiracy to defraud following an investigation by National Trading Standards.

Man convicted after fulfilment house investigation

Thousands of dangerous and unsafe electrical products including children’s tablets and nail UV lamps have been seized after a trading standards investigation in Swansea.

Man behind call blocker scam ordered to pay £128,950

A rogue trader who defrauded hundreds of people and is currently serving a five year prison sentence following his conviction for fraud at Bournemouth Crown Court, has now been ordered to pay £128,950 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Duo convicted of major vacuum servicing fraud

Two people who ran a company that fraudulently serviced Dyson vacuums have been convicted at Leeds Crown Court of conspiracy to defraud following an investigation by National Trading Standards.

Make sure advertising claims are accurate, estate agencies are reminded

Estate agency businesses are being reminded to ensure that their advertising claims are accurate and truthful.

Shoppers swindled after buying ‘phantom goods’

More and more people are being caught out by ‘phantom goods’ scams costing them an average of £1,100, Citizens Advice says.

Rogue trader who conned the elderly jailed

A rogue trader who preyed on the vulnerable and defrauded 21 elderly victims out of £108,000 over almost two years has been jailed.

Proceeds of crime hearing on conspiracy to defraud pair

Proceeds of crime hearing on conspiracy to defraud pair

£1.3m in ill-gotten gains seized from Derby-based advertising fraudsters

Four leading figures of a multi-million pound fraud involving a Derby-based company mis-selling advertising space have been ordered to hand over a combined £1.3m from their ill-gotten gains at a Nottingham Crown Court hearing today (Friday 12 May).

Government helps dementia sufferers in fight against nuisance calls

Prime Minister Theresa May announces plan to give elderly and vulnerable people hi-tech devices to block nuisance calls.

Four men sentenced to 11 years and 9 months in building fraud case

Three men were sentenced today to a total of 11 years and 1 month for running a fraudulent property repair business which targeted elderly and vulnerable consumers across the Midlands, following a three week trial at Birmingham Crown Court. These sentences came after a fourth individual had already been sentenced on 17th March for his part in the scam.

Blue Badge online scammer fined

A man and his company who misled disabled people into paying £49 a time for Blue Badge parking permits was sentenced to financial penalties totalling £15,457.35 today (29 March 2017) at York Magistrates’ Court.

Hartlepool man convicted of selling illegal media boxes

​A man who sold illegal media player boxes which allowed the free viewing of premium television content has pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court to breaching the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988, following an investigation by the National Trading Standards North East Regional Investigations Team and Hartlepool Borough Council.

Total 40 months jail for Dreamwell couple

A husband and wife from Leeds convicted of consumer protection offences against vulnerable people have been sentenced to a total 40 months imprisonment at Leeds Crown Court today (3rd March).

National Trading Standards issues bogus helpline scam warning

National Trading Standards is warning consumers about a new scam targeting those looking for help with printer problems. The warning comes after a rise in the number of cases seen by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team.

Leicester sales person has received a 22-month suspended sentence for pressurising and misleading advertising cold calls

A criminal who misled and pressurised elderly and vulnerable people into paying for advertising worth £88,239 has received a 22-month suspended sentence at Nottingham Crown Court today (Thursday 9 February).

Property fraudster jailed after National Trading Standards investigation

A property fraudster has been jailed following his conviction on 9 counts of fraud, theft and forgery. Tahir Khaliq was sentenced to 45 months imprisonment at Bolton Crown Court. His accomplice Paul Dickinson; acting as an employee in the property businesses received a two-year suspended sentence and 240 hours of community service for his involvement in 6 counts of insurance fraud. Their convictions follow a lengthy investigation by the National Trading Standards North West Regional Investigations Team.

Statement from National Trading Standards

Following media coverage this morning regarding repeat victims lists, National Trading Standards has published the following statement.

Conman jailed over fake phone accessories

A man from Gosforth, Newcastle has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after pleading guilty to nine offences relating to the possession and sale of counterfeit items and one offence of transferring criminal property, following an investigation by the National Trading Standards Scambuster North East Team and Newcastle Trading Standards.