News and press releases
Scams Awareness Month
Press release
This month (February) is national Scams Awareness Month and South Tyneside Council's Trading Standards team is advising local people how to avoid falling victim to professional scams that could end up leaving them thousands of pounds out of pocket .
A popular con at this time of year is the so-called 'miracle health cures' as an alternative way of losing weight.
Trading Standards says that leaflets or advertisements from unscrupulous sellers of medical products that promise to 'lose weight without effort' should be treated with scepticism as they rarely work and may even be a danger to health.
Councillor Joanne Bell, Lead Member for Innovation and Safer and Stronger Communities is backing the campaign. She said: "Every year an estimated 200,000 people in the UK spend money buying scam miracle cures for losing weight loss or other health or cosmetic concerns. It is highly unlikely that these products have been properly tested or have been proven to be medically effective and really they are just another way to con people out of cash.
"The advertising often includes fake testimonials from 'satisfied' customers, unsubstantiated claims about the product, false claims that the product has been clinically proven in trials and a potentially worthless 'money back' guarantee.
"Thankfully we don't get a lot of these cases in South Tyneside but it is obviously a concern as such products are freely advertised on the internet. Although I can appreciate that people may be reluctant to report problems with such products it really would be a help if they could contact the Trading Standards team who will treat information in confidence and warn other people about the scam."
It is estimated that 'miracle' health and slimming cures scams cost the UK public £20 million a year and average loss per person is around £90.
Please remember that for advice about any medicine or health product talk to your GP or pharmacist before you buy and never stop taking a prescribed medicine or start taking a new one before consulting them first.
If you think you have been the victim of a scam or you suspect a scam call Consumer Direct for clear, practical advice on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam
Pres/er/hsrs/ts/abpr593ck
