Online scam alert from council’s watchdogs

Staff reporter

Do not fall victim to an online sales trap set up to supply victims with goods they do not want and then demand payment.

The warning comes from South Lanarkshire Counciltrading Standards after they were contacted by a woman targeted with the scam sales technique.

Unscrupulous online retailers lure victims with adverts on popular social media sites but when people click on the ads for more info they are asked to supply contact details, including their address, before they can see the price.

That information is used to dispatch unwanted goods and an invoice to the victim’s address which is quickly followed with stern, legal-looking letters and emails threatening serious consequences if payment is not made.

The latest incident to come to the attention of the consumer watchdogs involved a peel-off mask for blackheads.

South Lanarkshire Council’s head of fleet and Environmental Services Shirley Clelland said: “This company appear to believe they are doing nothing wrong when in fact they are misleading consumers, claiming a contract has been agreed and an order has been placed before details of cost were revealed.

“In addition they are also supplying goods that are not of the standard advertised. If you receive products you did not order and an invoice for them, or similar online retailers, then you can call Trading Standards on 0303 123 1015, our advice is to ignore any further emails or letters from the company concerned. Alternatively fraud, cyber crime, online scams and viruses can be reported to www.actionfraud.co.uk.”