Argyll and Bute Trading Standards

04/09/2026

General Advice on Avoiding Scams
Advice Direct Scotland: www.consumeradvice.scot/knowledge-centre or call 0808 164 6000
Citizens Advice Scotland: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/consumer
Police Scotland: www.scotland.police.uk/advice-and-information/scams-and-frauds
Financial Conduct Authority: www.fca.org.uk/consumers/protect-yourself-scams
Neighbourhood Watch Scotland Alerts: www.neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk
Which?: www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/scams
Age Scotland: www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/information-advice/money-matters/scams/
Friends Against Scams: www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Your Consumer Rights
Advice Direct Scotland - www.consumeradvice.scot/knowledge-centre or call 0808 164 6000
Citizens Advice Scotland - www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/consumer
Which?: www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights
Information Commissioner's Office: www.ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint
Doorstep Scams
Find traders in Scotland who have been vetted by Trading Standards (supported by SCOTSS and Police Scotland): www.approvedtrader.scot
Trading Standards Scotland website: www.tsscot.co.uk/priority-areas/doorstep-scammers
Phone Scams
Ofcom: www.ofcom.org.uk/how-to-protect-yourself-from-scam-phone-calls-texts
TSS Phone Scams PDF: www.tsscot.co.uk/Phone-Scam-Information.pdf
Product Safety / Counterfeit Goods
OPSS Product Safety Database with details about unsafe and noncompliant products: www.gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-database-unsafe-products
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group: www.a-cg.org
Intellectual Property Office: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office
Electrical Safety First (guidance on avoiding counterfeit electrical products): www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/safe-shopping-and-counterfeit-products
Vistalworks (check the legitimacy of products before you buy them through online marketplaces): www.vistalworks.eu
Energy Efficiency Measures
Home Energy Scotland (impartial information about energy efficiency measures): www.homeenergyscotland.org
Trading Standards Scotland website: www.tsscot.co.uk/priority-areas/energy-marketing-scams
Cyber Scams / Cyber Security
Cyber Scotland: www.cyberscotland.com
National Cyber Security Centre: www.ncsc.gov.uk
Lead Scotland (cyber security advice in accessible formats): www.lead.org.uk/alternative-formats-for-cyber-security-messaging
Advice for Businesses
Scottish Business Resilience Centre: www.sbrcentre.co.uk
Business Gateway: www.bgateway.com
Business Companion (free, impartial legal guidance for businesses from CTSI): www.businesscompanion.info
NCSC (advice on SMS and telephone best practice for businesses): www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/business-communications-sms-and-telephone-best-practice
Journal of Trading Standards: www.journaloftradingstandards.co.uk

Illegal Money Lending / Financial Support
Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit: www.stopillegallending.co.uk or call the free and confidential helpline 24/7 for support/advice 0800 074 0878
FCA Financial Services Register: https://register.fca.org.uk/s
Find a full list of organisations who can help if you are struggling with debt at www.stopillegallending.co.uk/how-we-can-help

03/09/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l0058sxg/scotland-tackles-illegal-to***co-sold-on-high-streets

Trading Standard Officers in Scotland say there are clear links between the sale of illegal to***co products and organised crime.

24/08/2026

24/08/2026

Product Safety Report for Snugly Weighted Stuffed Toy. The product presents a risk of suffocation. The product is a weighted item that may be placed in close contact with the user’s face and body. Due to its weight, it may restrict breathing or movement for young children, increasing the risk of suffocation. Whilst the product is marketed as for use by adults, marketing images demonstrate use by children. Additionally, markings and warnings including safety information was not available in English.

Barcode: 6941262828435

Consumers are being warned of the risks presented and are advised to ensure affected products are kept out of reach of children.

18/08/2026

Going on holiday? Be careful if you're looking at travel adaptors online

Electrical Safety First recently tested 14 adaptors from online marketplaces- they all failed basic safety tests, with some posing a risk of electric shock, fire or electrocution

➡️ https://mailchi.mp/50f3e8be38d6/trading-standards-scotland-bulletin-6-august

18/08/2026

Water beads are small and can easily be swallowed without detection. As they bathe in stomach fluids, they expand to many times their original size, posing a serious risk of blockage in a child’s bowel.

Some water beads grow to more than 15 times their original size, up to the size of golf balls.
The beads don’t show up on X-ray, so finding them can be really complicated and the child may need major surgery to remove them.

That’s why they aren’t recommended for under 5s.

Learn more: https://capt.org.uk/keep-water-beads-away-from-young-children/

18/08/2026

⚠️ Product recall for Simple 730ml Kind to Skin Micellar Cleansing Water

The product poses a microbiological risk ⚠️

If you have an affected batch, stop using it immediately. Contact the shop where you bought the product for disposal instructions and/or return of the product.

Share this recall with anyone who may have bought or used the product.

Recall notice: https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-recall-simple-730ml-kind-to-skin-micellar-cleansing-water-2608-0103

For more information, please access: https://www.simple.co.uk/product-recall-notice.html

18/08/2026

⚠️ WINTER FUEL PAYMENT SCAMS

Winter Fuel Payment scams often start earlier than people think
Last year, criminals targeted UK adults between August and October, and this year is likely to be no different.

Remember, most Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically.
You should not need to apply, and you will never be asked to provide personal or banking details by text message or email.
Received a message you're unsure about?

Check it using the Ask Silver Scam Checker or visit GOV.UK for trusted information.

🔗 www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/ask-silver