Many of us will be buying new items for the summer holidays including phone chargers, sunglasses and immersion heaters to heat up our paddling pools. Buying a bargain is tempting but it is important to get a safe product. If a bargain product seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Many so-called bargains are harmful and could cause injuries that can be severe. Bargain electrical goods, such as pool immersion heaters and phone chargers, may not be manufactured to high standards and can overheat, catch fire or cause electrocution.
Poor quality sunglasses may only offer low or no protection from the sun’s rays.
Think carefully about who and where you are buying from.
While the internet has made it far easier to get a product delivered straight to your door, if you buy it from a seller based outside the UK there is a chance it may not be manufactured or labelled in accordance with our safety laws.
Take a minute to look at any product you have bought. Does it have safety markings? Are the instructions clear? Do you have the name and address of the manufacturer? If not, these can be warning signs. Be cautious about using the product.
Some products must display appropriate marking to be sold in the UK. This is a statement from the manufacturer that the product meets specific safety, health and environmental requirements.
Products this applies to include toys, electrical goods, gas appliances, fireworks and personal protective equipment such as goggles, gloves and helmets. Only buy these types of product if they have appropriate marking and the name and address of the manufacturer on them.
Until 1 January 2022, products sold in Great Britain may display:
CE marking, or
UKCA marking, or
UKCA marking and CE marking, or
UKNI marking and CE marking
If you are concerned about a product, stop using it, and report it to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Beware of fake festival and concert ticket sellers on Facebook!
One Suffolk resident has lost £120 to a fraudster who was advertising tickets on a Facebook group, stating that they are unable to attend.
The fraudster offered to transfer the names of the tickets, and requested money be sent via bank transfer and PayPal. The money that the victim transferred via their bank was stopped, however they have lost all the money they paid via their PayPal account.
Figures reveal almost £1 million has been lost to ticket fraud so far this year.
Data from Action Fraud reveals that that the average loss per victim is £850. Almost two thirds of victims (61 per cent) are aged between 20 to 49 years old.
Action Fraud received 374 reports of ticket fraud in March this year – the highest number of reports received since March 2020 when lockdown restrictions were first implemented. Victims reported losing over £200,000 in March this year alone.
Many festivals and events scheduled to go ahead as coronavirus-related restrictions ease have already sold out – something criminals are more than happy to take advantage of.
To avoid disappointment, only buy tickets from the venue directly, an official promoter or agent, or a well-known and reputable ticket site. Don’t be duped by offers on secondary ticketing websites or social media, as this is often where criminals will advertise fake tickets to popular and sold-out events. Remember, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
If you have been a victim of a ticket fraud, please report it to us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Allergen labelling laws for pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) foods change on 1 October 2021.
Any business that produces PPDS food will be required to label it to show the name of the food and the ingredients list. This includes emphasising within the ingredients list any of the 14 allergens used in the product, as required by food law. The new labelling requirements will help protect consumers by providing potentially life-saving allergen information on the packaging.
To help support food businesses, the Food Standards Agency has launched a PPDS Hub featuring useful information including new labelling guidance for PPDS foods and guides that will be helpful to specific sectors including:
Action Fraud is reminding animal lovers to take extra care when buying a pet online, as new figures show more than £2.5 million has been lost to criminals through fake pet adverts.
Data from Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, reveals that £2,638,323 was lost by prospective pet owners in the 2020/21 financial year, after they put down deposits for pets they saw advertised online – an increase of over 20 per cent compared to the previous financial year.
Capitalising on the rise in people getting pets due to the national lockdowns caused by coronavirus, criminals have been posting fake adverts on social media, online marketplaces and specific pet-selling platforms.
Unsuspecting victims will be asked to pay a deposit for the pet without seeing it in person first, with many criminals using the restrictions caused by the pandemic as a reason why they cannot see the animal. After the initial payment is made, more and more funds will be requested to cover additional costs such as insurance, vaccinations and even delivery of the pet.
In the 2020/21 financial year, Action Fraud received over 400 reports a month from victims of pet fraud. Over a quarter (29 per cent) of victims were aged 20 to 29 years old, and almost three quarters (74 per cent) of victims were aged 20 to 49 years old.
During April and May 2020, Action Fraud received more than 800 reports per month of pet fraud, indicating that many animal lovers sought to purchase a pet during the first national lockdown.
Dogs and puppies were the most reported animal victims claimed they were trying to purchase (71 per cent), followed by cats and kittens (20 per cent).
Victims reported being scammed on social media (11 per cent), online marketplaces (25 per cent) and specific pet-selling platforms (37 per cent).
Action Fraud has launched a national awareness campaign today (Monday 26 July 2021) to remind the public to think twice before handing over their money when buying a pet online.
How to protect yourself
Do your research: if you’re making a purchase from a website or person you don’t know and trust, carry out some research first. Look up reviews of the website or person you’re buying from. If you’re purchasing an item from an online marketplace, you can view the seller’s feedback history before going ahead with the purchase.
Trust your instincts: if you’re unable to view the animal in person, ask for a video call. If you’re buying a young animal, make sure you’re able to see the mother and rest of the litter. Any responsible seller will understand why you want to view the animal in person. If the seller declines, challenge them on why. If you have any suspicions, do not pay any money until you’re certain it’s genuine.
Choose your payment method wisely: avoid paying by bank transfer. Credit card or payment services such as PayPal give you a better chance of recovering your money if you become a victim of fraud.
When things go wrong: Anyone can fall victim to fraud. If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
THE LITTLE GUIDE TO PERSONAL INFORMATION
Oculus has issued a safety notice for the foam padding in its Quest 2 headset, warning it can cause skin irritation.
As part of its corrective action, Oculus is offering a free silicone cover - which encases the existing foam insert - to all Quest 2 headset, Quest 2 facial interface accessory, and Quest 2 Fit Pack owners.
