Scammers posing as trading-standards officers and other council officials have targeted more convenience stores in attempts to steal vapes and money.

Several retailers told Better Retailing they had seen a spike in imposters approaching them in recent weeks. In one instance, Booker reps warned store owners of two incidents in London where individuals used fake council IDs to visit stores and attempt to seize legal vapes.

The scammers were unsuccessful as the retailers knew they had been purchased legitimately from Booker, and the incident has since been reported to the council.

In another incident this month, Ken Singh, of Love Lane Stores in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, received a scam call from someone claiming to be from the council’s health-and-hygiene department.

Singh told Better Retailing: “I’ve noticed an uplift in scam attempts. There were a lot of tell-tale signs that the call wasn’t genuine.

“They said they needed to come for an inspection and that I had to pay them £49.99 to conduct it. I could hear a lot of background noise that shouldn’t have been there.

“The scammer said they were from Wakefield Borough, which was immediately a red flag as Wakefield isn’t even a borough council. They were using all the wrong terms.

“When I asked for details, they gave me a mobile number and were unable to provide an email address.

“I didn’t pay them, but decided to call their bluff and told them to visit. Nobody has been to my store.

“It’s worrying if you’re an older retailer, as they’ll often be easier targets. They’re the ones scammers will often try to take advantage of.”

Elsewhere, Vas Vekaria, of Kegs N Blades in Bolton, Greater Manchester, has told staff to remain vigilant if they receive a visit from someone claiming to be from trading standards or another government body, following recent warnings.

He said: “I’ve told staff to be aware and not to entertain them unless I’m in the shop.”

Kaual Patel, of Nisa Torridon Convenience in Hither Green, south London, warned: “Sometimes it’ll be the smaller shops who will be targeted, or the retailers whose first language isn’t English.

“These targets will be intimidated into co-operating if something looks official.”

Councils sends out official scam warnings

Earlier this year, Northumberland County Council sent official warnings out after fake letters were being sent by scammers claiming to be from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). In one instance, one letter reportedly included CTSI branding.

A similar scam was being conducted in the East Riding of Yorkshire this year. Official trading-standards guidance states that retailers should ask for ID if they are suspicious of someone claiming to be from trading standards.

It will include details such as their name, department and local authority.

Trading-standards officers will also have business cards. If they do not, the officers will at least leave visit sheets, notices and advice leaflets with contact details of their local authority.

Absence of these is a red flag. Imposters will also likely become argumentative when challenged on whether they are a legitimate trading standards officer.

Scams are ‘deeply concerning’

Advising further on what retailers need to look out for, Kerry Nicol, external affairs manager at the CTSI, told Better Retailing: “It’s deeply concerning to hear that businesses are being targeted by criminals that are impersonating trading-standards officers.

“To exercise powers, officers must be authorised in writing, and if requested by the business, they must provide evidence of that authorisation.

“If a business is concerned about the legitimacy of someone entering their business premises, they should contact their local council to check their credentials.

“If something doesn’t add up, they should report it to their local trading-standards service immediately.”

Main image shows a legitimate trading-standards officer inspecting vaping goods during a store visit

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