Guernsey Trading Standards warn over telephone scam

Tuesday 18 September 2012

Trading Standards and the Police are warning Islanders to beware of unsolicited phone calls (known as cold calls) telling them that they’ve won a lottery.

A local woman received a call telling her that she’d won a prize on the “International Lottery” of £120,000. The lady was then told that for ‘tax reasons’ the prize had to be sent to Trading Standards and to get her prize she would have to pay £4,200! However, if she paid a smaller amount of £1,325 to the company’s lawyer they could release it.

A Trading Standards spokesman said “This is an out & out scam! The very idea that Trading Standards would somehow be involved in a lottery is ludicrous and without foundation. Clearly the perpetrators of this con trick think people could be persuaded to pick the lawyer option to pay the ‘release fee’ as it is much cheaper. Of course, in reality, well over £1,000 of your money will go straight into the conman’s pocket and you are left with nothing.”

- Islanders should remember it is impossible to win on any lottery unless you have entered it and in reality you would know you had!

- In a legitimate lottery you would never have to pay anything to release any winnings.

- Remember, it is perfectly acceptable to say “no thank-you, please don’t call this number again” and hang up. You are not being rude!

- Never ever feel pressured into agreeing to anything offered in a cold call. A legitimate company would have no problem with you going away to think about it and calling back at a later date if you are genuinely interested.

- Always talk to friends, family or Trading Standards about any offers you receive whether by post, telephone call or email.