Alert issued on bogus shopping scam

9:55am Saturday 9th February 2008

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TRADING standards officers today warned elderly people in Oxfordshire to beware of a bogus shopping scam.

The alert comes after incidents in Wantage and Henley involving telephone calls from someone claiming to work for South Oxfordshire District Council.

The caller asked to carry out shopping as part of a special service offered by the authority.

On both occasions the intended victims became suspicious and contacted Oxfordshire trading standards.

Trading standards officers have since contacted South Oxfordshire District Council, which confirmed it was offering no such shopping service.

Oxfordshire County Council does offer a home shopping service, contracted to a company called Montclair. However, Montclair does not cold call clients in this way.

Head of trading standards Nigel Strick said: "Luckily both gentlemen who received the calls sensed something was wrong, but other members of the public could still be at risk from this scam.

"We would like to urge people never to deal with anyone who calls or knocks at the door without an invitation."