Energy Saving Scam Warning

The Trading Standards Institute  (TSI) is urging consumers to be  aware of rogue telephone cold  callers offering energy saving  devices.  Trading Standards are currently  dealing with more than 200  complaints about people claiming  to be their energy supplier or  working in partnership with them,  offering a plug-in device which  they say can save them 40% off  their energy bills. Trading  standards have had a number of  the items tested which not only  failed to satisfy electrical safety  standards but do not deliver any  tangible energy savings.  Ron Gainsford, TSI Chief  Executive, said: “Consumers are  warned not to use the product as  they pose a risk of fire and  electrocution and a safety recall  has been issued for the items  traced so far. Unscrupulous  criminals are using the rising  energy prices as an opportunity to  lure in cash strapped consumers  – elderly people seem to have  been deliberately targeted. The  number of complaints we are  currently dealing with is bound to  be only the tip of the iceberg.”  Westminster Trading Standards  have been investigating the scam  as the caller gives a London W1  Oxford Street address for the  company.  Sue Jones, Westminster Trading  Standards, said: “The address  they give is that of a virtual office  provider, the companies involved  in these scams are not actually  situated there – we believe the call  centre they use is based abroad  and the appliances appear to be  distributed by a number of  individuals in the UK.  “We know that these fraudsters  have been duping consumers  across the country into paying  £99 for the energy saving device  and have been told the caller  always appears to be very  credible by already knowing the  consumers’ details, their energy  supplier and sometimes some or  all of the digits of their credit/debit  card. Often consumers do not  realise that they have been  defrauded until they receive the  dodgy looking device with  instructions in broken English and  the accompanying invoice which  names an unknown supplier and  often gives an American  address.”  If consumers have responded to  one of these cold calls they  should report the matter to Action  Fraud on www.actionfraud.org.uk  0300 123 2040 or Consumer  Direct on 0845 4040506. They  should also contact their bank to  stop their debit/credit card. If a  device has been received they  should not use it and dispose of it  carefully.