Highland Cows - Online Sale Scam - Trading Standards Warning
25th July 2024
Falkirk Trading Standards have warned that scammers have set up a webpage claiming to sell Highland cows and other livestock from Muiravonside Country Park.
The address of the scam website is www.newparksfarms.co.uk - it uses the park's genuine address and postcode in an attempt to appear legitimate.
Several people who saw the website have already visited the park to enquire about the cattle for sale.
Staff at the park have confirmed that none of the Highland cows are for sale.
Trading Standards officers have found that the same website has also been used for scam puppy sales.
How to Avoid
Be wary when buying products from unknown websites or sellers. Verify any website or online business before making financial transactions involving significant purchases such as livestock or pets.
Check independent reviews of the seller/store on official websites rather than relying on reviews hosted on the website itself.
Make sure you have contact information for the seller in case something goes wrong. The website should list a valid return address and contact details - be suspicious if a UK website has a returns address overseas and check that the address is listed with Companies House.
Pay by credit card or a secure online payment system for stronger protection. Be suspicious if a seller will only accept payment via bank transfer.
Check the site's return policy and terms and conditions. If buying via an online marketplace, check the site's advice section to find out what to do if items are faulty or not delivered.
Look out for spelling or grammatical mistakes and poor-quality images - these could mean that a website/store is a scam.
Your consumer rights are generally the same whether you're shopping on the high street or online. When shopping online, you also have the right to a 14-day cooling off period for most purchases.
Protect your accounts - set up 2-step verification and use three random words passwords to prevent cyber criminals from gaining access to your shopping, bank or email accounts.
The Get Safe Online Check a Website page is an easy-to-use online tool which helps you to determine whether a website is likely to be legitimate or a scam before you visit it.
Find out more
Advice on shopping online safely from the National Cyber Security Centre: www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/shopping-online-securely
Advice from Which?: www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-spot-a-fake-fraudulent-or-scam-website
Trading Standards Scotland: www.tsscot.co.uk/online-shopping
Get Safe Online: www.getsafeonline.org/onlinebuying
Advice on your consumer rights from Advice Direct Scotland: www.consumeradvice.scot/knowledge-centre
Original article: www.falkirk.gov.uk/news/article.aspx
PHOTO
By Nilfanion - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7868883
