Grantown trader warns of "UK Data Control" scam
A repeat warning has gone out over a scam mailshot still circulating in Badenoch and Strathspey.
A year ago local Trading Standards issued a warning about the mailing by “UK-Data Control Scotland Business” which appears to offer a free company registration while its small print holds the duped signatory to a commitment of some £800, with only a labyrinthine exit route from the “agreement”.
It was in February 2015 that Aberdeen City Council’s Trading Standards team warned local businesses not to respond to the mailshot.
All local businesses were warned to ignore a letter from a firm with an address in Hamburg, Germany.
The letter is designed to look like an official Government document, and requires the recipient to provide their VAT Registration Number to update the “UK-DATA CONTROL portal”.
The letter also includes a form for businesses to check and sign to say their details are correct.
The small print indicates that a cost of £790 a year will be incurred by the business for a minimum of three years.
In his official warning over the scam, Graeme Paton, team leader of Trading Standards at Aberdeen City Council said: “We are concerned that local businesses may believe the letter to be from an official government source, which is not the case.
“If businesses sign and return the form to confirm their details are correct they could end up being tied into a contract and liable for the high costs of an entry in this portal.
“We have had several enquiries from businesses regarding this and we have advised them that they are not obliged to provide the information to this company.”
One Strathspey trader brought a copy into the Strathy this week warning that it was not the first she had received.
Marjory Marshall, at The Bookmark on Grantown High Street, said: “We received the first one about a year ago and realised that it was not right.
“Now we’ve had the same thing again, so these people have not stopped putting them out and we’re worried for the local businesses which haven’t seen it before and could commit themselves to a lot of trouble they don’t need.
“All local businesses need to be made aware that although these things look official they are not, and should not be filled in and returned.”
Any business concerned about a letter, email or phone call they have received can telephone Trading Standards on (01224) 523737 and ask for Business Advice.
Any consumer who wants to report a scam should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service National Advice line on 08454 04 05 06.
