‘Please don’t be a victim of this scam’ (From Worcester News)

‘Please don’t be a victim of this scam’

4:30pm Friday 10th February 2012 in News By Sarah Taylor

A WORCESTER pensioner who fell victim to an energy-saving scam is warning others not to do the same.

Patricia Bunney, aged 72, of St Peter’s, said she was left shaken after realising she had been duped by an energy-saving device phone scam.

The former nursery nurse bought the plug-in device for £99.30 last August after receiving calls from a business called ITC Development Corp.

Ms Bunney became suspicious after she saw no change in her energy costs.

But it was after a call telling her that the plug-in was a scam and she could get £1,950 in compensation by paying a further £108 that she realised she had been cheated.

Ms Bunney said: “This is a scam and they are targeting the elderly. I want to warn pensioners what can happen.

“It was supposed to get my electricity down by 40 per cent.

“I was going to send it back but in November I had a fall so I didn’t. Then I was called and told it was a scam.”

Ms Bunney was told to contact a number and a man named Andie Leems would come and collect the energy savings box.

She was told she would have to sign papers, produce her driving licence to be copied and should get a Ukash voucher for £108.

“They started phoning me again about three weeks ago,” said Ms Bunney.

“It was at that point I contacted the police. When I realised what had happened I couldn’t stop shaking.”

Trading Standards has received hundreds of complaints from people around the country in connection with this scam.

Ron Gainsford, Trading Standards Institute chief executive, said: “Unscrupulous criminals are using the rising energy prices as an opportunity to lure in cash-strapped consumers. Elderly people seem to have been deliberately targeted.

“The number of complaints we are dealing with is bound to be only the tip of the iceberg.”

So far different suppliers have been named, including 1 Stop Marketing Solutions, ITC Development Corp and Power Saver.

If consumers have responded to one of these cold calls, they should report the matter to Action Fraud on actionfraud.org.uk or call 0300 1232040 or Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506.