TEXT MESSAGE SCAMS WARNING
Halton Trading Standards is warning people about text/SMS scams where the scammers are posing as family members to steal information. As teenagers venture away from home this summer for holidays, festivals and school trips, the prospect of text message scams increases. The scam involves a text message purporting to be from the recipient’s son or […]
Warrington woman pleads guilty to council tax support fraud
Carol Edwards (aka Boardman), 58, of Cotswold Road, appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court on Wednesday 15 February and pleaded guilty to a charge of council tax support fraud. Between 30 March 2015 and 3 February 2022, Mrs Edwards (Boardman) dishonestly failed to declare to the council that she was cohabiting with her husband Alan Edwards, […]
A woman and two men have been jailed for sexual offences against children
A woman who sexually assaulted and raped a child with two other men has been given a life sentence for sexual offences against children today (Friday 13th May) following an extensive joint investigation by Merseyside Police and St Helens Social Care. During a previous court case in June 2021 a phone of a convicted paedophile […]
WOMAN ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF ILLEGAL MONEY LENDING IN WIDNES
A 51-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending and money laundering offences following an operation in Widnes. The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) working in partnership with officers from Cheshire Constabulary and Halton Borough Council Trading Standards executed a warrant at an address in the Appleton area this morning, Wednesday, […]
‘HELLO MUM’ SCAM WARNING
Halton Trading Standards is warning of a WhatsApp scam, currently widely circulating and costing victims thousands of pounds. Consumers are being targeted on WhatsApp by criminals pretending to be someone they know. The scam starts by the consumer receiving a WhatsApp message from an unknown number stating something like “Hello Mum” or “Hello Dad”. The […]
TELEPHONE LOFT INSULATION WARNING BY HALTON TRADING STANDARDS
Halton Trading Standards is warning of unsolicited telephone calls regarding loft insulation. The callers state how they are concerned that the consumer may have loft insulation that is unsafe and which is also being phased out by government. These telephone calls often develop into the trader wanting to inspect/survey the consumer’s property, often for free! […]
Hundreds of fake Chanel and Louis Vuitton bags seized during Trading Standards swoop
Hundreds of fake Chanel and Louis Vuitton handbags were seized as part of Manchester City Council’s ongoing efforts to stamp out counterfeit crime. On May 8, 2019 officers visited the premises of MH Import & Export Ltd, in Derby Street Manchester. During this action 737 fake bags were identified and removed by Trading Standards officers, […]
ARGOS/DYSON SCAM WARNING
Halton Borough Council Trading Standards is warning consumers of scam emails purporting to be from Argos offering free Dyson products (see pic) These emails are NOT from Argos, they are from an email address ending in privateanswer.cloud. A Halton Borough Council Trading Standards Spokesman said: “It is not clear what Dyson products they are claiming […]
COLD CALLERS ALERT FROM TRADING STANDARDS
As the area prepares for another cool snap this weekend, Halton Borough Council Trading Standards had reports that cold callers are operating in the area. Officers advise consumers not to buy products on their doorsteps from cold callers and to avoid being caught out by cold callers by: •Keeping your front and back doors secure […]
Fraudster Runcorn builder jailed after forging safety documents at Manchester Court
A fraudster builder who left a customer more than £60,000 out of pocket has been jailed for almost four years, following a sentencing hearing at Manchester Crown Court. Adam Routledge, 36, of Stenhills Crescent, Runcorn, pleaded guilty to fraud after admitting he faked insurance documents and the approval of a building inspector whilst carrying out […]