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Journal of Trading Standards, Online Edition - JoTS Online

Welcome to the Journal of Trading Standards online edition, JoTS Online. Browse through our latest Articles - including Analysis, Opinion Pieces, Features and a selection of articles from our acclaimed print journal.

Although many JoTS Online articles are open access (public), others are exclusive to CTSI Members - in which case, you'll need to login to access them. If you aren't a member of CTSI yet, you can join us here. And, if you'd like to contribute articles or suggest topics for us to cover, please email our Editorial Team.

Latest JoTS Online Articles : 

News Category Tags: Crime, Product Safety, Health and Safety, Counterfeit Goods, Retail, Animal Health and Welfare, Legal and Policy, Enforcement Practice, Product Recalls, Property and Housing, Automotive, Vapes, Business, CTSI Conference, CTSI Hero Awards.

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Shut out Scammers, TSS urges

Posted: 08 May 2022

UPDATES: Trading Standards Scotland is urging consumers to stay alert as fraudsters adapt their tactics during the cost-of-living crisis, highlighting the latest scams and practical steps to reduce the risk of becoming a victim.
 

COVID-19 test fraudster prosecuted

Posted: 28 April 2022

UPDATES: A fraudster who offered fake COVID-19 testing services during the pandemic has been prosecuted after deceiving members of the public with bogus home testing and false laboratory claims.
 

Fraudsters jailed for timeshare scam

Posted: 07 April 2022

UPDATES: Two men have been jailed for laundering money generated by a sophisticated cross-border timeshare fraud that targeted hundreds of UK consumers. The investigation traces how advance-fee scams operated, how funds were moved through multiple accounts, and the partnership work that secured convictions.
 

North London fraudster sentenced

Posted: 01 April 2022

UPDATES: A rogue builder who exploited a North London homeowner to feed a gambling addiction has received a suspended prison sentence. The case highlights the financial and personal impact on the victim and the investigation that uncovered how tens of thousands of pounds were misused.
 

Islington cowboy builder jailed

Posted: 23 March 2022

UPDATES: An Islington rogue builder who deliberately targeted elderly homeowners has been jailed after defrauding victims of £86,000 through fabricated roofing repairs. The prosecution demonstrates how early intelligence, careful investigation and partnership working exposed a calculated pattern of offending.
 

Warwickshire rogue trader found guilty

Posted: 21 March 2022

UPDATES: A Warwickshire rogue trader has been convicted after systematically exploiting a vulnerable pensioner over several years, extracting more than £100,000 for grossly overpriced and incomplete work. The investigation reveals the scale of the deception and the evidence that secured the verdict.
 

Dorset takes on illegal puppy sales

Posted: 08 March 2022

UPDATES: Dorset Council is warning would-be dog owners to check breeders before buying, as trading standards and environmental health teams tackle unlicensed puppy sales driven by pandemic demand, animal welfare concerns and the risk of serious consumer loss.
 

FCA cracks down on investment scams

Posted: 03 March 2022

UPDATES: FCA data shows investment scam enquiries rose sharply in 2021, with cryptoassets, boiler rooms and recovery room fraud prominent, as the regulator promotes ScamSmart and InvestSmart and steps up action against unauthorised and high-risk firms.
 

Valentine’s Day scams warning

Posted: 01 February 2022

UPDATES: CTSI is warning Valentine’s Day shoppers and online daters to watch for romance fraud, fake getaways and pop-up gift scams, as pandemic isolation and rising use of dating platforms continue to fuel losses.
 

Mail scammers impersonate CTSI

Posted: 26 January 2022

UPDATES: Fraudsters are circulating letters that misuse CTSI branding to promote a bogus compensation scheme, asking recipients to submit personal details through a fake creditors debt form. CTSI warns that the scam has spread beyond England and urges anyone receiving the letter to contact the Financial Conduct Authority.
 

Puppy seller ordered to pay £100,000

Posted: 12 January 2022

UPDATES: An illegal puppy seller who misled buyers into believing he had bred the animals himself has been ordered to pay £100,000 after a Telford and Wrekin Council Trading Standards investigation uncovered poor record-keeping, misleading adverts and serious animal welfare concerns.
 

Omicron sparks latest email scam

Posted: 15 December 2021

UPDATES: Members of the public have received an email clad in NHS branding as well as texts calling on them to "apply now for Omicron PCR test to avoid restrictions." The message claims that older...
 

COVID scam targets youngsters

Posted: 02 December 2021

UPDATES: A convincing text message scam exploiting COVID-19 vaccine passes targeted young people with a fake NHS website and payment request, providing a timely reminder of how fraudsters adapt to current events.
 

HMRC warns of Self-Assessment scams

Posted: 18 November 2021

UPDATES: As the Self Assessment deadline approaches, HMRC is warning taxpayers to be alert to a surge in phishing emails, texts and phone calls designed to steal money and personal information. The advice explains how to recognise common scams and report suspicious contact.
 

Crackdown on illicit puppies in Wales

Posted: 27 September 2021

UPDATES: A major enforcement operation in Wales has uncovered alleged illegal puppy farming, with hundreds of dogs rescued or seized as investigators target organised criminality fuelled by soaring pandemic demand for pets.
 

Trader jailed for fake DVD business

Posted: 23 September 2021

UPDATES: A four-year prison sentence concludes a lengthy investigation into a sophisticated counterfeit DVD operation that used multiple online accounts, false identities and money laundering to generate more than £500,000 in sales.
 

Survey reveals extent of COVID scams

Posted: 23 September 2021

UPDATES: New survey findings reveal the scale of COVID-era scams, widespread public concern about underfunded consumer protection and low reporting rates, reinforcing calls for stronger enforcement and greater investment.
 

Doorstep criminal guilty of fraud

Posted: 09 September 2021

UPDATES: A prosecution brought by the Trading Standards Service of the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland has resulted in a suspended prison sentence for a doorstep criminal. On September...
 

WhatsApp scam targets families

Posted: 06 September 2021

UPDATES: CTSI has been informed of a newly emerging scam message on WhatsApp in which fraudsters attempt to impersonate the recipient's family members to steal money. A member of the public...
 

Four-year sentence for counterfeiter

Posted: 25 August 2021

UPDATES: A trading standards investigation has resulted in a Birmingham man being jailed for four years for manufacturing and selling fake designer clothes. Inderjit Sangu, who owned a clothing manufacturing business in Hockley, ...