Trading standards officers are urging residents across the north-east to be vigilant against Covid-19 scams.
Aberdeenshire Council’s trading standards team has released a new report into the types of incidents reported in recent months.
We asked partners in the #ShutOutScammers campaign what advice they would give consumers
Today's top tip come from Mark McGinty, Doorstep Crime Enforcement Lead for @socotss –
Do not engage with a cold caller or with any leaflets through your door 👇 #ScamAware pic.twitter.com/pNg1LErwN0
— TradingStandardsScot (@TSScot) June 17, 2020
These include fraudsters calling people about contact tracing, and then requesting bank details and non-compliant PPE and hand sanitisers being sold.
The report states: “There have been numerous national reports of scams involving contact tracing.
“These vary from requesting bank/card details to pay for Covid-19 testing kits to simply phishing for personal details and other information. Genuine contact tracing staff will ask questions but will never ask for bank details, PIN numbers, or payment of any sort, including for a testing kit.”
Officers have also recorded an increase in the demand for puppies and kittens during lockdown and are urging potential buyers to to make proper checks to ensure they are buying from a reputable breeder and not a scammer or puppy farm.
In Peterhead, there have also been reports of doorstep callers have been offering for sale potted plants left over from a local job.
Business vehicles offering handyman services on a cold-caller basis have also been spotted in the Westhill and Newtonhill areas.
Anything suspicious should be reported, and victims are urged to try and record as much detail as possible including business or individual names, ages, accents, descriptions and vehicle type and registration.
Aberdeenshire Council’s trading standards team are on 01467 537222.
