Shopping service scam alert (Status: Press release)

OXFORDSHIRE County Council?s Trading Standards team is alerting the public to a shopping scam aimed at the elderly which surfaced this week.
The warning follows incidents in Henley-Upon-Thames and Wantage involving telephone calls from someone claiming to work for South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC).

The caller asked to carry out shopping as part of a special service offered by the authority.
On both occasions the intended victims became suspicious and contacted Oxfordshire County Council?s Trading Standards.
Trading Standards Officers have since contacted SODC, which confirmed it was offering no such shopping service.
Oxfordshire County Council does offer a home shopping service, contracted to a company called Montclair. However, Montclair do not cold call clients in this way.

Head of Trading Standards, Nigel Strick said: ?Luckily both gentlemen who received the calls sensed something was wrong, but other members of the public could still be at risk from this scam.
?We would like to urge people never to deal with anyone who calls or knocks at the door without an invitation.?

Consumer advice
For further advice contact Oxfordshire County Council?s Trading Standards on 0845 051 0845