Council warning over bogus calls pretending to be from trading standards

Peterborough City Council has warned consumers about bogus phone callers who claim to be from trading standards.

The local authority issued the warning after a local consumer received a call from a person who said that he was Alex Jones and that he worked for trading standards. 

The caller claimed that he had a cheque for £500 to deliver as the result of a court claim, but suggested he would need a cheque for £200 for administrative costs. The consumer was then told that a courier would call to collect the cheque personally.

The trading standards team at Peterborough said: “No trading standards department would operate in this way and consumers are warned to not be taken in by this scam. Do not give any personal details to any caller offering money in return for an advance payment and certainly do not give your address to allow these callers to visit you.”

Consumers needing help were advised to call the Citizens Advice Consumer Line on 08454 040506.