On the first day of Christmas my true love gave me me…something smells fishy… #FraudFreeXmas

Good afternoon,

We’re sharing a warning issued by our partner agency, Trading Standards, who have advised they often receive reports, particularly in this festive period, of criminals selling “cheap perfume” and other items in the street, usually out of a carrier bag (rather than through a reputable retailer).

Although it sounds like a bargain (and who doesn’t love a bargain) Trading Standards warn these products can be dangerous.  Fake/counterfeit products have not undergone rigorous safety testing and can cause skin irritation and/or contain toxic ingredients such as arsenic, lead, or mercury.

To find out more, including how to spot a fake, please visit: https://www.a-cg.org/consumer-advice/safe-not-fake

If you see fake products being sold in person, or are approached in the street and offered fake products please phone 999 as a crime is in action at that moment.  If you later realise you were offered fake goods in person, please report to Trading Standards Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or online to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary at: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

Please do share this important warning with friends and family and encourage them to sign up for their own Hampshire Alert: https://www.hampshirealert.co.uk/ 

Hampshire Alerts is not a crime reporting portal – please do not report crime here.

If you realise you’ve been scammed and wish to report a fraud that has already happened, please report it to Report Fraud either by phone 0300 123 2040 or online at:  https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/

However, if a fraud or other crime is in progress, and/or you are in fear for yourself or someone else, and/or there is evidence in situ that could be damaged/destroyed, please phone 999 immediately. 

Otherwise, report non-fraud crime online, or find out about other ways to report a crime at: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

If you’ve received a phishing email please report it to your email provider and/or forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk 

If you’ve received unwanted phone calls or texts from people you think are trying to scam you, but you haven’t engaged with them, please forward the text/phone number to 7726 or to your phone provider.

If you've been affected by a crime please contact Victim Care Hub for free, confidential, support:  https://www.hampshireiowvictimcare.co.uk/  or phone 0808 178 1641

If you would like to report a crime anonymously please contact: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or phone 0800 555 111

Thank you – Fraud Safeguarding Team