Newham Trading Standards are urging residents to think before they buy this Christmas, highlighting the potential dangers of poor quality or fake goods.
Councillor Carleene Lee-Phakoe, Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety, said: “During the festive period, especially during the current cost of living crisis, we are urging residents to ensure they are “savvy shoppers”, and avoid falling for “too good to be true deals”, counterfeits, and unsafe products.”
Goods bought from non-established retailers and websites carry a particular risk with poor-quality imitations, and even dangerous and unsafe products for sale.
Trading Standards particularly warn about the dangers of buying suspiciously cheap toys - these can often be made of poor quality or even dangerous materials, and can pose risks of poisoning, choking or even strangulation.
Top tips for toy buying:
- Buy only from trusted retailers
- Look for EU and UK safety markings
- Question the price if much cheaper than elsewhere
- Avoid toys with small parts
- Check the toy is age appropriate
- Check for product recalls (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-recalls-and-alerts)
Cllr Lee-Phakoe added; “We know that residents may be experiencing financial hardship but I would urge everyone to avoid loan sharks. If you are worried about money this Christmas there is loads of advice and support available on the Council website at: www.newham.gov.uk/council/cost-living-response” or you can use the Our Newham Money service for great advice, and support.”
Christmas is a potential bonanza time for fraudsters – with many ordering gifts, food and services online.
Government figures for 2022 show fraud is the most prevalent offence in the UK, accounting for around 40% of all crimes. That’s why it’s more important than ever that people learn how to spot potential fraudsters to minimise the risk of falling victim to scams.
If you receive any unexpected or suspicious communications – by email, text or post – please take a moment to check before responding.
- DON’T – give away your personal or bank details and be wary of letters, emails, texts or phone calls that promise you money or a refund.
- CHECK – for obvious errors – is your name spelt correctly, does the correspondence contain other spelling or grammatical errors – does it feel right?
- ASK – if you are ever unsure about a communication you have received, it is always best to ask someone – perhaps a friend or relative before responding.