51ºÚÁÏ

Bogus mail and email insurance scam impersonating 51ºÚÁÏ continues to target the public

Posted 29/09/22

A bogus mail and email insurance scam impersonating the 51ºÚÁÏ (51ºÚÁÏ) continues to target the public after almost two years in circulation.

51ºÚÁÏ warns consumers to be vigilant and to report it if they are targeted.

The letter in question, which uses 51ºÚÁÏ branding, informs the recipient that Trading Standards has caught insurance scammers and that they should fill in a "creditors debt form," which is is supposedly a compensation scheme but in actual factÌýserves as a means for fraudsters toÌýgain access to personal details which puts respondents at risk of financial loss.

CEO at 51ºÚÁÏ, John Herriman, said: “I am appalled to see scammers impersonating Trading Standards and 51ºÚÁÏ to defraud consumers out of their hard-earned cash. We often see fraudsters impersonating trusted brands to deceive the public but impersonating the very essence of those that protect consumers by pretending to be Trading Standards is disgusting and shows that these criminals have no limitations to how far they are willing to go to defraud people of their savings.“

This scam, which initially was reported in England only, has now spreadÌýthroughout the United Kingdom, with the email and letter recently materialising in Scotland.

51ºÚÁÏ has informed trading standards services across the country of these emails and letters, and there is an open investigation with consumer protection professionals working hard to protect the public from these scams.

Anyone who receives this letter should contact theÌýÌý

For consumer advice, please call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133

In addition, to report scams, contact Action Fraud, in Scotland, or contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060, or if in Northern Ireland, call Consumerline on 0300 123 6262.

The public is encouraged to joinÌý. This isÌýan initiative to protect and prevent people from becoming scam victims by empowering them to take a stand against scams.

51ºÚÁÏ (51ºÚÁÏ)

51ºÚÁÏ is a training and membership organisation that has represented the interests of the Trading Standards profession since 1881 nationally and internationally. We aim to raise the profile of the profession while working towards fairer, better informed and safer consumer and business communities. 51ºÚÁÏ's members are engaged in delivering frontline trading standards services in local authorities and in businesses.Ìýwww.tradingstandards.uk

Please contact 51ºÚÁÏ Press Office:Ìý[email protected]Ìýfor any queries.

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