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Mobile Customers Overpaying For Data

According to new analysis from Citizens Advice, 71% of mobile customers with a SIM-only plan are overpaying for data, they don’t use. This costs the consumers a combined total of £800 million per year.

The charity commissioned YouGov to survey 4,070 adults between 29 November and 3 December 2018, and asked participants how much data they pay for, how much data they use and how much they spend each month.

The online survey, found that customers could save approximately £63 per year by switching to a cheaper deal that matched their data consumption. The average amount wasted each … Read more

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New figures show extent of pension scams

Action Fraud has revealed that two people have reported to the service, that they have lost more than £1 million each to pension scams. However, Action Fraud believes this is only the tip of the iceberg as many victims never contact the authorities to report it and so the total amount of people who have handed over such large pension pots is unknown.

In 2017, the average loss of pension scams was £91,000. Victims reported receiving cold-calls, offers of free pension reviews and promises that they would get high return rates, all of these promises are warning signs of … Read more

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Retailers advertising real fur as Faux Fur

Clothes shops have been selling real fur, but advertising it as fake. After an investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority discovered this practice was Pervasive, they have ordered retailers to stop immediately. The agency has given retailers a deadline of 11 February to change their ways or face punishment.

Why would a retailer advertise fur as fake?

Often a retailer has been mis-led somewhere in their supply chain, but the Advertising Standards Authority, say this is not an excuse. They say the companies need to take charge of this and make sure they are not mis-leading their consumers.

Miles Lockwood, … Read more

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Animal Lovers Warned Over Fraud Scheme

Future pet owners are being warned about a new online fraud that has scammed victims out of £3 Million.

Action Fraud has issued a warning that between March 2012 and April 2018, 5066 reports were made to the National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre. Victims reported losing £3,129,273 during this time, an average of £40,640 per month.

Director of Action Fraud, Pauline Smith said: “Fraudsters are taking advantage of people looking for pets online, often to bring into their family. When a person falls victim to this fraud, the distressed and financial loss caused can be huge and … Read more

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12 Years In Jail For Timeshare Fraudster

Kristopher Chavez has been convicted by jury, of one count of violating the Colorado Organised Crime Control Act, one count of theft of an at-risk elder, and 19 counts of felony theft.

According to the initial indictment from December 2016, Chavez operated a timeshare fraud scheme from 2014 to 2016. He would contact timeshare owners from across the U.S, most of whom were elderly and vulnerable. He would invite them to a local hotel and would offer to transfer their timeshare ownerships over for a onetime fee. Once payment was made, Chavez would transfer the title out of their name … Read more

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Fresh Warning Over Investment Scams

The Financial Conduct Authority is warning investors to be alert when investing their hard earned cash. Action Fraud has revealed that over £197 million was reported as stolen by scammers in 2018. On average, victims were conned out of £29,000 each, the FCA and Action Fraud are warning investors to be on the lookout for increasingly sophisticated fraudsters.

Data from the FCA call centre shows, that the most common scam reported involved investments in shares and bonds, forex and cryptocurrencies. The companies offering these products are not registered with the FCA and together they account for 85% of all … Read more

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Carbon Credit Fraudster Jailed For Eight Years

A man from Essex who lived a lavish lifestyle, has been jailed for eight years after mis-selling carbon credits to 130 victims in 2012 and 2013. He was found guilty of six counts of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.

The police say victims received cold calls from apparent brokers through companies named as Harman Royce Ltd and Kendrick Zale Ltd, and were persuaded into investing in voluntary emission reductions. They targeted people living in affluent areas and were all aged 50 and over. Carbon Credits were charged at between £5.26 and £6.50 with victims loses totalling £1.5 million.

Police … Read more

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Timeshare Trial May Hold Key To Solve Murder Case

The partner of serial Timeshare fraudster John “Goldfinger” Palmer is facing trial in Spain this week, in a case which police say could hold the key to his murder. Christina Ketley and Richard Cashman are accused of selling non-existent timeshares on Palmer’s orders, whilst he was behind bars serving 8 years for fraud.

In June 2018, Ms Ketley offered a £100,000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of those responsible for the murder of John Palmer. Ms Ketley said: “It haunts us every day to think that whoever was responsible was clearly watching John, Harassing him like an animal … Read more

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Money Launderers Jailed Over £67,000 Phone Banking Fraud

A student has been jailed and four others have been sentenced over a £67,000 phone fraud. The judge in the case said the defendants acted as money launderers for a gang who defrauded a care home owner out of her entire life savings and destroyed her life.

The scam caused the victims business to fold and left her an emotional wreck. Judge Stephen Ward said: “If it were not for people like you, serious criminals would find life a lot more difficult”.

The victim was contacted in June 2017 by scammers posing as Barclays Bank to say her personal and … Read more

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RCI and Bluegreen Vacations Renew Partnership

The worldwide leader in vacation exchange membership, RCI, and Bluegreen Vacations have renewed their ongoing partnership. Bluegreen Vacations operate over 60 vacation resorts throughout the US, which will continue to be part of the RCI programme and exchange network. Bluegreen resorts are located across the United States and Caribbean in destinations including Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Aspen, Las Vegas and New York City.

Famous Rhodes, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Bluegreen Vacations said: “Bluegreen is a company built on the strength of its long-term relationships, as such we are very excited about the renewal of this enduring partnership … Read more

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