Social media and Telephone Preference Scheme scams on the rise

Scams relating to the sale of fraudulent goods on social media and fake callers claiming to be from the Telephone Preference Scheme are the ones that pose the most threat to consumers over the coming months, experts say.

As new scams emerge on the market consumers are being warned by the National Trading Standards agency to be particularly aware of scammers making cold calls claiming to be from the TPS in an attempt to get money from them for so-called registration to stop nuisance calls and useless call blocking devices.

Frontline staff at the NTS said the fake TPS calls were "a sad and cynical scam" that preyed on people who were just trying to protect themselves.

Also on the NTS' list of concerns for customers over the next year are an increase in fraudulent deals or faulty and fake products being sold on social media sites, the targeting of financially vulnerable people by loan sharks and the unauthorised sale of fake or duplicate tickets.

According to the National Trading Standards agency the new threats to consumers come as a result of criminals who "set out to target consumers - including some of the most vulnerable people in society."

NTS chairman Lord Toby Harris said: "It's not just money they take from innocent people. Many victims feel they have lost their dignity, their self-confidence, their sense of security. For small businesses, entire livelihoods may be lost and this, in turn, damages the economy."