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News

Don't Get Stuffed This Christmas

Festive money worries could be driving local residents into the arms of Christmas conmen say Trading Standards Officers from Bournemouth and Poole Councils.

The fears were raised by the startling response to their own advert promoting a ‘fake’ scam they had set up on the internet. In just two weeks, several hundred consumers wanted to know more about the bogus business opportunity “Betterlife” which offered fast, ‘no risk’, cash and financial freedom for 2006.

Shaun Robson, Head of Environmental & Consumer Protection Services, Borough of Poole, said: “With the help of the Daily Echo and the Poole based Exchange & Mart magazine we placed small adverts for a ‘too good to be true’ business opportunity and indicated that details could be found at www.betterlife.50g.com. The front page of the website continued the ‘get rich quick’ theme offering easy earnings to pay off Christmas credit card bills, etc.”

Andy Sherriff, Principal Trading Standards Officer for Bournemouth Borough Council, added: “Anyone who tried to sign up or ask for more information was transferred to another page where a message explained how they could have been caught out, and where to get further advice. Around 300 people were sufficiently tempted to look for details, even at a potential cost of £15 before they knew what was involved. Many people can spot the signs of a potential scam, but clearly some are still too easily attracted to these valueless offers.”

A recent debt survey by credit experts Equifax and the Office of Fair Trading revealed that 10 per cent of men and 19 per cent of women spend over half of their wages repaying their credit card/loan payments each month, and that Christmas is a time of further financial pressure.

Cllr Don Collier, Poole’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “This is an unusual and innovative way of helping local residents learn how they could have been conned. Trading Standards Officers can help root out the crooks, but they can also offer guidance to local residents who feel wary of the many offers that come their way each day.”

Cllr Mrs Jean Moore commented: “I am delighted to see officers from Bournemouth and Poole working together to highlight the dangers of unworkable gold-spinning schemes. Debt is a major problem for many people, especially at this time of year, and one which con-men are only too eager to exploit.”

Andy Shimmen, Trading Standards Officer, Environmental & Consumer Protection, Borough of Poole tel 01202 261773