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Trading Standards officers
"The 12 Cons of Xmas"
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Monday, 6 December, 1999, 17:02 GMT
Beware 'the 12 cons of Christmas'

Shoppers are warned to look out for rogue traders

Trading standards officers have taken to carol singing in an attempt to warn shoppers about the con merchants who could be lying in wait for them this Christmas.

Officers have produced "The 12 cons of Christmas", which will be released on CD, to highlight the methods used by rogue traders to fool unsuspecting consumers.

"Christmas is, unfortunately, an ideal time for rogue traders to fleece the public"

Tradings standards officer Allan Charlesworth

One of the singers, Allan Charlesworth, who is also chief executive of the Institute of Trading Standards Administration (ITSA), said: "It's a light-hearted way of putting across an extremely serious message.

"Christmas is, unfortunately, an ideal time for rogue traders to fleece the public. They not only cheat those who can ill afford it, they also sometimes put people in danger from faulty or badly-designed products."

Sung to the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas", the trading standards song warns consumers of:

Twelve fake bottles: some con artists are cashing in on the demand for millennium champagne by passing off inferior quality wine as bubbly.

Eleven weeks still waiting: giving credit card or bank details over the internet for products which never arrive or have high handling charges.

Ten months, no earnings: non-legitimate homeworking scams where money is asked for up front and nothing is paid for completed work.

Nine offers, no bargains: winter sales after Christmas which may seem to offer a bargain but in fact are no cheaper than ordinary prices.

Eight fake computer games: counterfeit games which do not work and could be full of viruses which ruin PC hard drives.

Seven shocks I got: Christmas lights which do not comply with safety regulations and could cause fires or electrical faults.

Six "fresh" frozen turkeys: previously frozen turkeys sold as fresh birds are a potential threat to health.

Five counterfeit rings: unauthorised jewellery and other designer merchandise.

'A short pint of frothy beer'

Four fake Furbies: fake clothing, toys and perfume which may be a bargain but could be shoddily made and possibly dangerous.

Three thousand readies: loan sharks who prey on hard up parents charging interest at 100% or even 1,000%.

Two dangerous toys: dangerous toys which could cause serious injury and even death.

One short pint of frothy beer: short measures in pubs and clubs.

Proceeds from the sale of the single will go to the British Heart Foundation.

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See also:

	22 Nov 99 \| Business
	Champagne sales jump

	19 Nov 99 \| UK
	Fake bubbly warning

	08 Oct 99 \| UK
	Crackdown on fake goods


Internet links:

	Trading Standards

	Which? Online

	BBC Watchdog

	Guide to Internet shopping

	Versions of "The 12 Days of Christmas"

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

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