Rogue Trader Alert – Sales of generators, chainsaws and pressure washers from vans
We have received reports of generators, chainsaws and pressure washers being sold from vans from several locations including Diss, Costessey, Swaffham and around Fakenham. Reports have included cold calls at domestic properties and people being approached in the street, in car parks of retail stores and drive through restaurants.

Never purchase items if approached in this manner. There is a high possibility that the items being sold are low quality counterfeits, which could be unsafe to use, or are stolen.

It is possible these sellers could move on to other parts of Norfolk.

Anyone sighting these sellers in Norfolk or concerned about rogue trader activity in their community can contact us through our partners the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or to Norfolk Constabulary via 101.

Cold Calling Alert – Telephone cold calls requesting payment for your ‘solar panel service’
We have received a report of a telephone cold call which was made to a Norfolk resident regarding a ‘solar panel service’.

During the call the cold caller stated this service was ‘required every five years’ and that they needed bank details for payment.

Always be very wary of any approach made in a telephone cold call and never give or confirm any personal or financial details, agree a service or to someone visiting your home if approached in this manner.

If you need advice about cold calling or have agreed to a visit during a cold call contact us through our partners the Citizens Advice consumer helpline via their online reporting form or by telephone on 03454 04 05 06.

Scam Alert – Emails offering a ‘Business Deal’
Watch out for emails circulating with the subject line ‘Business Deal’.

The email claims to be from a director of a large investment bank and asks you to be the ‘Foreign Beneficiary’ for a sizeable cash sum that ‘your entitlement is 40%’.

These emails are a scam and are not connected with the named business in any way. This is one of many variations of this approach that are often in circulation.

If you receive this or a similar email – delete it.

Cold Calling Alert – doorstep cold caller offering ‘free roof health checks’
We have had reports about doorstep cold callers in Norfolk calling at properties enquiring about your home’s ‘insulation’ and offering ‘free roof health checks’.

Reports in the last week have been received from the Watton, King’s Lynn, Terrington St. John, Caister and Scratby areas.

Be very wary of claims made by doorstep cold callers and never give access to your property, agree to services, buy items or for return visits if approached in this manner.

If you are concerned about doorstep cold calling in Norfolk contact us through Citizens Advice consumer helpline, via their online reporting form or by telephone on 03454 04 05 06.

Scam Alert – ‘International Postcode Online Lottery’ Letters
Letters have been sent to Norfolk residents claiming to be from the ‘International Postcode Online Lottery’. The letter states the resident has been awarded a prize of £900,000 in a recent draw.

These letters are a scam and no prize is available. If you receive this type of letter dispose of it correctly without responding in any way.

Here are some simple steps you can take to avoid lottery scams:

If you haven’t entered a lottery then you can’t have won it. Never respond to unexpected communications.

Official lotteries in other countries operate in much the same way as the UK’s National Lotto. No official lotteries that we know of contact people to tell them of their win.

We don’t know of any official lottery operators who ask for fees to collect winnings. Any request for a fee payment is a good indication that someone is trying to scam you.

Never disclose your bank details or pay fees in advance to claim a lottery win

If they’ve provided an email address to respond to, be very suspicious of addresses such as @hotmail.com or @yahoo.com or numbers beginning with 07 because these are free to get hold of

Genuine lotteries thrive on publicity. If they ask you to keep your win a secret it’s likely to be a scam

Many examples of lottery scam letters have bad spelling and grammar – see this as a warning that fraudsters are at work