By Isle of Wight Observer
Businesses have been warned to stay alert, after Isle of Wight Trading Standards received fresh reports of scam activity affecting firms and residents.
One report, passed on by an IWASP partner, involved an accounts department receiving an e-mail with an invoice attached, accompanied by fake emails “authorising” payment.. It was identified as a scam before any payment was made and reported to the relevant authorities. A Trading Standards spokesman urged anyone responsible for paying invoices in a business to check they are genuine before processing them.
Businesses are also being warned to be cautious if they receive a phone call from someone claiming to be an energy provider. If there is any doubt, firms should contact their actual provider directly to check.
Residents are reminded to treat unexpected e-mails or social media messages with suspicion, especially if they appear to come from a friend asking for money or offering a financial opportunity. Trading Standards said a genuine friend would not usually ask for help in that way, and their account may have been hacked. Anyone receiving such a message is advised to contact the person directly.
Further reports have been received about scam texts claiming a parking ticket is overdue and urging people to click a link to pay before extra charges are added or a licence is revoked. These messages are scams and people should not be pressured into responding.
There have also been recent reports of rogue traders on the Island offering jet washing services door to door. Trading Standards is advising residents not to agree to work from cold callers, and instead use approved firms, such as those on the Isle of Wight Trader Approval Scheme. ‘No Cold Calling’ stickers are available by e-mailing trading.standards@iow.gov.uk.
A text or WhatsApp scam claiming to be from a son or daughter who has lost or damaged their phone is also said to be circulating again.
People are being urged not to respond, and families may wish to set up a password so messages can be checked safely.
Mal Butler