Rogue traders in our region have again been in the news and some successful work by the Scambusters team to tackle them has been highlighted.
Sentences totalling 8 years and 4 months imprisonment were imposed on five offenders convicted as a result of the team's work, which takes in the whole East Midlands region. Residents have been saved at least £37,000.
The range of illegal trading includes illicit tobacco, the fraudulent selling of mobility aids to disabled people, dangerous counterfeit electrical consumer goods and other counterfeits, bogus property repairs, business to business “cold calling scams”, and “clocked” vehicles.
The Scambusters team is jointly funded by the Government and each local Trading Standards Service in the East Midlands, of which Leicestershire County Council is one.
To report any concerns members of the public may either telephone the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06 (this “fronts” for the Trading Standards Service and is open between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m., Monday to Friday), or email telltradingstandards@leics.gov.uk