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Welcome to CTSI's News Room. Browse through our latest Consumer Protection and Trading Standards news reports (below), or take a look through our archive of news articles from previous years.
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Bogus coronavirus business grants hit email inboxes
Posted: 23/06/2020
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has learned that UK internet users are receiving bogus emails from fraudsters offering fake business grants. The emails, dressed in UK government branding are the latest in a series of scam messages claiming to be from the Government.
Fake COVID-19 home testing appointment texts targets public
Posted: 18/06/2020
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has witnessed evidence of bogus texts informing members of the public that a "COVID Home Testing Team" will visit their homes.
ASA launches Scam Ad Alert system to help better protect consumers online
Posted: 16/06/2020
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is today, Tuesday 16 June, launching a UK Scam Ad Alert system in partnership with the major digital advertising and social media platforms, including Facebook and Google, to help tackle bogus ads that leave consumers out of pocket.
Unscrupulous practice of price gouging must stop says CTSI COVID-19 Roundtable
Posted: 16/06/2020
Following a series of COVID-19 themed roundtable discussions relating to key issues affecting consumers during the pandemic, CTSI and organisations including Which?, Money Saving Expert, Resolver, The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are calling for a stop to unscrupulous price gouging.
One in three Brits targeted by a scammer so far during lockdown
Posted: 15/06/2020
Over a third of British adults (36%) have been the target of a scam since lockdown began, new research by Citizens Advice reveals.
Warning issued over KN95 facemasks
Posted: 12/06/2020
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned that KN95 facemasks are not suitable PPE.
Coronavirus: CTSI convenes roundtable on COVID-19 issues
Posted: 08/06/2020
Recognising the range of significant issues for consumers and business emerging from the COVID-19 crisis, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has taken the proactive step to convene a series of virtual roundtables with key consumer protection partners and stakeholders from consumer, business and regulator perspectives. Representatives from CTSI, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), NTS Scams, Moneysavingexpert.com, Citizens Advice (CitA), the British Retail Consortium (BRC), Which?, and Resolver have so far taken part.
Pandemic cancellations - beware ‘refund vouchers’ and ‘admin’ fees
Posted: 08/06/2020
Consumers who have tickets for cancelled flights, holidays and events must have their legal rights to a refund upheld, says London Trading Standards (LTS), who have today published advice to consumers on their website (http://www.londontradingstandards.org.uk).
CTSI warns scam website links to fake Trading Standards hotline
Posted: 05/06/2020
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) warns the public to be aware of bogus websites claiming to be a "Trading Standards Call Connection Service."
Trading Standards alert over 'test and trace' scammers
Posted: 03/06/2020
'Think before you click' scam alerts have been sounded by Trading Standards officers to try to head off scams in the wake of the launch of the Government's coronavirus Test & Trace system.
Millions of sub-standard masks and thousands of fake hand sanitisers seized at Heathrow
Posted: 01/06/2020
Trading standards teams at Heathrow Airport have stopped 6.5 million sub-standard face masks and 8,000 counterfeit hand sanitisers coming through the airport since the pandemic started, according to London Trading Standards (LTS).
Coronavirus guides help businesses during lockdown
Posted: 27/05/2020
A series of free government-backed guides have now been published by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to help guide businesses in those industries.
