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News Room


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.


MEDIA ENQUIRIES :  We can provide expert opinion, comments and spokespeople on a wide range of Trading Standards, consumer protection and regulatory issues - or point you in the right direction. Please call our press office on 01268 582240 or 07811244602, or email us: [email protected]



You searched for covid-19. Your search returned 132 results.

Test and Trace Scam seen in England and Wales now also targets Scotland

Posted: 18/11/2020

CTSI was sent evidence a couple of days ago of a Scottish version of the scam which mimics the Scottish Government's Test and Protect system. Individuals received Whatsapp messages from unknown numbers asking them to message back. If the recipient messages back, the person then asks for personal details which could be used for identity theft.

Consumers urged to think before they buy online

Posted: 17/11/2020

The COVID-19 coronavirus lockdowns have led to a rise in consumer spending online. 87% of UK consumers are estimated to have purchased a product online, and the public spends around £2bn a week on online purchases. 

COVID-19: Bogus HMRC calls continue to target public

Posted: 11/11/2020

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has uncovered another telephone scam from individuals pretending to represent HMRC.

Green Homes Grant Scheme deadline too short warns CTSI

Posted: 06/11/2020

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute's Lead Officer for Energy and Climate Change, Steve Playle, warns that the Government's Green Homes Grant Scheme (GHGS) may be subject to opportunists and fraud due to its short deadline.

Clarity sought over future of UK European Consumer Centre

Posted: 28/10/2020

The UK European Consumer Centre (UK ECC), a consumer service joint-funded by the UK Government and the EU could face closure, and its staff made redundant if action is not taken to retain its funding after December 31.

CTSI welcomes Virgin Holidays' £203m customer refund commitment

Posted: 27/10/2020

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) supports the action of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to have Virgin Holidays refund all customers whose package holidays were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phoney COVID marshals targeting doorsteps

Posted: 23/10/2020

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has received reports of incidences involving people pretending to be COVID marshals and medical professionals to gain access to people's homes.

Stay safe at home this Firework Season

Posted: 20/10/2020

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) are advising the public to stay safe at home this Firework Season due to the cancellation of public displays because of COVID-19 measures and the likely rise of home displays.

ETC-19 Group wins Hero Award

Posted: 09/10/2020

Earning this year’s prestigious Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Hero Award as the overall winner for the COVID-19 Team category due to its “truly astonishing speed and the depth of diligence, commitment and personal drive of officers,” is the Environmental Health & Trading Standards COVID-19 Expert Group (ETC-19 Group) at the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) & Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland (SOCOEHS).

CTSI announces COVID-19 Team Hero Awards winners

Posted: 09/10/2020

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) today announced the winners of the COVID-19 Team Award along with an Overall Winner during the CTSI Hero Awards 2020. The Hero Awards recognise the achievements of consumer protection professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

CTSI announces branch and section Hero Award winners

Posted: 09/10/2020

Several trading standards professionals have today been recognised at the CTSI's annual Hero Awards. The awards, which recognise the work of consumer protection professionals took place for the first time online, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Jury service scam text targets public

Posted: 21/09/2020

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has uncovered evidence of a series of bogus texts inviting recipients to perform jury service or delay it at cost.


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