Scams and Advice
The following links provide advice on how to protect yourself from scams and how to report them or other unscrupulous trading activity.
Scams
West Lothian Trading Standards is a Friends Against Scams (opens new window) Organisation. The National Trading Standards Scams Team aim to raise awareness of current scams.
Trading Standards Scotland (opens new window) have produced advice for those who require help or are looking to provide help.
Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) have developed an online reporting tool (opens new window) for any instances where retailers are overcharging for in demand products. Further information is available from the CMA website (opens new window).
Potentially misleading or harmful adverts can be reported to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) on their quick reporting form (opens new window).
Citizens Advice Scotland developed an online scam checking tool (opens new window).
Fraud Prevention
Cifas (opens new window), the UK's leading fraud prevention service, has issued advice on how members of the public can protect themselves from current scams:
- Be sceptical if you receive an email, text or WhatsApp or social media message if you were not expecting it, check the sender's details and never click on any attachments or links
- Never provide personal information such as your name, address, date of birth
- Don't feel pressured into donating money, never make donations by cash or gift card and never send money through transfer agents such as Western Union or Moneygram
- Contact your bank if you think you've been the victim of a scam and report any fraud to Police Scotland on 101.
Advice
If you need advice or wish to make a complaint about any goods and services you have bought please contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or visit www.consumeradvice.scot (opens new window).
