Alert from Wiltshire Trading Standards - Bogus Health and Safety Calls

Local businesses should be aware that bogus Health and Safety officials may target them by phone in an effort to force an advertising contract.

A call is received by the business claiming to be a "courtesy call" from the Health and Safety Executive asking to confirm business details. A subsequent caller then claims the business has entered into a contract for advertising.

A local Wiltshire trader tricked the company, by agreeing to confirm his details but in fact gave a false name for the address and telephone number. Shortly after giving the information, a caller asked for him by the false name to suggest he had entered into a contract. Advice is available to any Wiltshire business on 08451 201 202.

Wiltshire's trading standards department are warning local businesses to be particularly vigilant. Sue Wilkin Senior Adviser advises "Official organisations will not expect you to confirm information over the phone. They will always be prepared to write to you. I suggest all telephone calls are treated with suspicion, and that no information is given out without a written application which can be verified before complying. Yet again, the small business is the target, and we are relying on local people to help us by frustrating the efforts of these unscrupulous companies."