'Scambuster' cash boost to tackle rogue traders

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) promised a further £1.8 million to help trading standards officers target rogue traders such as illegal doorstep salespeople, counterfeiters, unqualified repair workers and cowboy builders.

The Government said the funds would mean that dedicated "scambuster" teams would work across local authority boundaries to catch those operating the "worst and often hardest to tackle scams".

In addition, the DTI said the teams would educate consumers and businesses by raising awareness of rogue traders and counterfeiters "making consumers better able to spot the rogues from the reputable businesses."

'Malicious practices'

Announcing the initiative, consumer minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: "I want to see bogus sellers, who knock on the doors of some of the most vulnerable people in our neighbourhoods put out of business.

"These scambuster pilots mean that trading standards officers will be able to crack down on unscrupulous traders and businesses and stamp out their kind of fraudulent and malicious practices."

The £1.8million of funding is in addition to a total of £1.2 million already earmarked for establishing trading standards "intelligence hubs" in Scotland, Wales and nine regions of England.

Mr Sutcliffe added: "This money will allow teams of investigators to focus on the larger scale scams that operate across local authority boundaries and work to take action against the worst kinds of traders."

Many targets

Ron Gainsford, chief executive of the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), said: "I am delighted that the DTI has recognised the need for additional resources and new ways of working.

"Quite rightly the public expect Trading Standards Services to stop these scams and bring fraudsters to task. We have been in danger of losing the battle but now, with these reinforcements we can start to fight back."

Recent research commission by the Office of Fair Trading revealed that almost half of the UK population has been targeted by a scam.

Those aged between 35 and 54 years were the most likely to have been targeted by a mass-marketed scam, as were working people. Almost one in ten within this age group had actually fallen victim to a scam and parted with money.

The OFT said that results ran counter to expectations that the main focus for scammers would be the most obviously vulnerable consumer groups such as older people, or those isolated from social networks such as the workplace.