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Government crackdown on cyber scams

15 Feb 2010

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A new specialist cyber enforcement team and extra funding for Trading Standards has been announced.

Each year scams cost three million UK consumers £3.5 billion and recent research from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) shows that email is now the most common scam approach – 73% of adults have received a scam email in the past year.

Consumer Minister Kevin Brennan said:

“The internet is rapidly transforming the way we shop. It presents massive opportunities for consumers, but unfortunately it also harbours fraudsters who can leave consumers upset and out of pocket.

“So as they get more sophisticated, we need to stay one step ahead. Our investment will help the OFT and Trading Standards to put in place the new specialist teams, training and technology required to take the fight to these criminals.”

The Government is investing £4.3 million over three years:

  • OFT’s team has already set up a fully equipped laboratory with specialist equipment and is being trained by an international expert. This new functionality adds to the OFT’s capability across all of its enforcement work from cartels to consumer protection cases; and
  • new highly trained trading standards enforcers with specialist equipment will also be placed in every region of England and in Scotland and Wales.

Online scams the teams will focus on include:

  • fake products and traders who try to hide their identity to avoid giving consumer redress;
  • ticket scams where tickets sold for concerts, festivals, football games and other events are either counterfeit or non-existent; and
  • scam websites purporting to sell goods that dupe consumers into making what appear to be bargain purchases, but consumers receive either nothing at all or counterfeit products.

Consumers who suspect they are the victim of an online scam should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk. Consumer Direct can provide advice and pass on complaints and information to Trading Standards and the OFT.

Full press release: Government crackdown on cyber scams

Read the Digital Britain report