Consumers failing to protect themselves from online fraud this sales season
20th December 2018 • Posted inHunt for a bargain putting shoppers at risk of falling victim to online scams, warns National Trading Standards
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News
News Archive - 2018
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Man sentenced to 10 months in prison for role in carpentry fraud
17th December 2018 • Posted inFollowing an investigation by the National Trading Standards Investigation Team (Wales), a 23 year old Newport man has today been sentenced to 10 months in prison and 180 hours unpaid work at Cardiff Crown Court for six offences of fraud. The prosecution was conducted by Newport City Council as two of the offences took place in the city.
Read MoreRunaway criminal sentenced to seven and a half years for role in land banking fraud
17th December 2018 • Posted inThe fifth man involved in a land banking scam where innocent victims were conned out of over £35 million has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison and banned from being a company director for 15 years at Blackfriars Crown Court today. James Maynard is the final defendant to be sentenced in this case after fleeing the country before the original trial took place in March 2013.
Read MoreHome Office fund expansion of Scam Marshals programme
7th November 2018 • Posted inNational Trading Standards’ flagship Scam Marshals programme is to be expanded thanks to new funding from the Home Office as part of the government’s Loneliness Strategy.
Read MoreConsumer Harm Report 2018
27th September 2018 • Posted inNational Trading Standards’ annual Consumer Harm Report reveals more consumer detriment prevented and record prison sentences handed down. Report also highlights new and emerging threats facing consumers and businesses.
Read MoreDriveway repair fraudster sentenced to five and a half years
30th August 2018 • Posted inA man has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for defrauding vulnerable and elderly consumers across the country out of at least £300,000 at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court today. The sentencing follows a nationwide case taken by Powys County Council Trading Standards supported by the National Trading Standards Investigation Team Wales.
Read MorePassport service website operator sentenced
2nd August 2018 • Posted inA man who operated websites which conned consumers out of £1.6m has been handed a one year suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay £200,000 within 28 days at Leeds Crown Court today. The sentence comes after he pleaded guilty to breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 following a National Trading Standards investigation.
Read MoreSuccessful project blocks over 100,000 nuisance calls
6th July 2018 • Posted inTelephone scammers who target vulnerable and elderly consumers with scams and nuisance telephone calls have been stopped in their tracks, with a National Trading Standards project blocking more than 100,000 unwanted calls in less than a year.
Read MoreWebsite owner sentenced for duping consumers into thinking he was the DVLA
26th June 2018 • Posted inAt Reading Crown Court on 20th June 2018, MICHAEL FREEMAN, 46, of Huntercombe Lane North, Taplow, Maidenhead, was sentenced to 9 months in custody suspended for a period of 2 years after pleading guilty to engaging in an unfair commercial practice in relation to a website www.drivinglicenses.org.uk that consumers thought was the DVLA. In addition the Court set a timetable for confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Read MoreNTSEAT launches agent survey into use of referral fees
19th June 2018 • Posted inNational Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT), with the support of The Property Ombudsman and the Property Redress Scheme, have today launched a survey to assess the use of referral fees among estate agents.
Read MoreMan who claimed to 'cure cancer' with blood test and food fined and handed Criminal Behaviour Order
20th April 2018 • Posted inA man who said he could cure diseases such as cancer and diabetes using just blood tests and food has been fined a total of £2,250 and handed a Criminal Behaviour Order at Blackfriars Crown Court today.
Read MoreSeven sentenced for mobility product scam
19th April 2018 • Posted inSeven people have been sentenced to three years in prison at Cambridge Crown Court today for their role in a scam that targeted homeowners on their doorsteps.
Read MoreThree sentenced to 10 years in prison for roles in home improvement fraud
20th March 2018 • Posted inFollowing a trial at Chester Crown Court that lasted 4 weeks, three people have been sentenced to a total of almost 10 years on Friday 16th March for their roles in a home improvement fraud following an investigation by National Trading Standards.
Read MoreDreamwell couple ordered to pay £917,287
9th February 2018 • Posted inA husband and wife from Leeds convicted of consumer protection offences against vulnerable people have been ordered to pay back £917,287 under the Proceeds of Crime Act following a hearing at Leeds Crown Court.
Read MoreCall centre trader sentenced for role in computer repair scam
26th January 2018 • Posted inA call centre trader who misled consumers by claiming to be from Microsoft to carry out computer repairs has today [26 January 2018] been sentenced after pleading guilty to four unfair trading practices. Narendra Harilal Vadgama (age 56 of Babington Road, Barrow upon Soar, LE12 8NH), who traded under the name Internet Security Direct, admitted four charges brought under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Read MoreOne million people empowered to tackle scams
24th January 2018 • Posted inA call to action for individuals, communities, businesses, neighbours and work colleagues to help ‘take a stand against scams’ is being announced by the Government this morning during Take Five to Stop Fraud week. At an event in Westminster it will be confirmed that the Friends Against Scams campaign – run by National Trading Standards to help people spot and report scams – is planning to train up to a million people to be Friends Against Scams by 2020.
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