Aberdeenshire Trading Standards

16/10/2026

***WINTER FUEL SCAM***

🚨 SCAM ALERT: Fake Winter Fuel Payment texts are circulating.

These messages may ask you to click a link, confirm details, or act urgently.

Don't respond, click links, or share personal information.

You can forward suspicious texts to 7726 and check them using Ask Silver.

🔗 friendsagainstscams.org.uk/ask-silver

14/10/2026

***WINTER FUEL SCAM***

💬 A quick conversation could help prevent a scam.

Winter Fuel Payment scams target older people who may be less confident with unexpected messages.

Remind friends, family members and neighbours that most payments are automatic and that the DWP will not ask for bank details by text message.

If they're unsure, encourage them to check messages with Ask Silver.

🔗 friendsagainstscams.org.uk/ask-silver

08/10/2026

Aberdeenshire Trading Standards were out again last night, paying a return visit to Turriff Tangent. This time we discussed, phone scams, scammers’ tactics and concerns about AI, the latter having quite divergent views, understandably. We look forward to our next visit to cover other types of scams.

07/10/2026

Aberdeenshire Council are advising tenants, both Council and private, to be wary when answering the phone to callers enquiring about outstanding repairs to dwellings. We have been advised of tenants taking calls from such callers, believing them to be from the Council and later finding that they are not. This approach is common to scammers pretending to be legal firms, trying to sue landlords then keeping substantial parts or all of any pay-outs obtained. Calls are originating from 0330 numbers.

If you have any concerns about outstanding repairs, please firstly speak to your landlord. If you have any concerns about falling victim to these calls, please contact your local Trading Standards office. In Aberdeenshire that is normally done through Consumer Advice Scotland on 0808 164 6000.

06/10/2026

⚠️ CONSUMER WARNING ⚠️
🚨 Be aware - this is a scam. 🚨
📞 Scammers are contacting residents in the Peterhead area and falsely claiming that they will receive a cheque, refund, compensation payment, or prize.
🎁 💷 They then ask the consumer to purchase vouchers and provide the voucher codes to "verify" their claim or release the payment.
❌ Legitimate organisations will NEVER ask you to buy vouchers in order to receive money.
💸 Once the fraudster obtains the voucher details, they can quickly redeem the funds, leaving the consumer out of pocket.
✅ Protect Yourself
🛑 Never purchase vouchers to receive a payment, refund, or prize.
🔒 Never share voucher codes or PIN numbers with anyone.
🤔 Be suspicious of unexpected phone calls requesting payment or financial information.
📵 If in doubt, hang up and contact the organisation directly using a trusted phone number.
📢 If you think you have been targeted by this scam, report it to:
📞 Consumer Advice Scotland
☎️ 0808 164 6000
🌐 consumeradvice.scot
🕘 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

02/10/2026

Good afternoon,
The latest Scams Bulletin, no. 143, from Aberdeenshire Council’s Trading Standards department is now available via the link below. Many thanks,
Bob McKinney
Enforcement Officer

29/09/2026

⛽ Fuel Price Checks at Petrol Forecourts ⛽

Trading Standards is working with petrol forecourts across Aberdeenshire to help ensure that roadside fuel prices are displayed accurately and clearly for motorists.

With fuel prices changing regularly in response to market conditions, it is important that the prices displayed on roadside signs match the price charged at the pump. Incorrect or out-of-date pricing information can be misleading and may influence consumers' decisions about where to fill up.

Consumers often rely on roadside price signs when deciding where to purchase fuel. If those prices are not up to date, motorists may make a journey or purchasing decision that they otherwise would not have made.

We recognise that, in a rapidly changing market, price displays can sometimes be overlooked. By working with local forecourts, we aim to support compliance and help maintain consumer confidence that the price they see is the price they will pay.

If you have concerns about fuel pricing, please contact Aberdeenshire Trading Standards at [email protected].

25/09/2026

🚨 WINTER FUEL SCAM WARNING🚨

💬 A quick conversation could help prevent a scam.

Winter Fuel Payment scams target older people who may be less confident with unexpected messages.

Remind friends, family members and neighbours that most payments are automatic and that the DWP will not ask for bank details by text message.

If they're unsure, encourage them to check messages with Ask Silver.

🔗 friendsagainstscams.org.uk/ask-silver

Spread the word by sharing this post.

23/09/2026

🚨 WINTER FUEL SCAM WARNING🚨

Fake Winter Fuel Payment texts are circulating.

These messages may ask you to click a link, confirm details, or act urgently.

🛑STOP. 🛑Don't respond, click links, or share personal or bank information.

You can forward suspicious texts to 7726 and check them using Ask Silver.

🔗 friendsagainstscams.org.uk/ask-silver

Spread the word by sharing this post.

23/09/2026

Bob McKinney, Enforcement Officer with Aberdeenshire Council’s Trading Standards department will be chatting with John Graham of Grampian Hospital Radio (https://www.facebook.com/GrampianHospitalRadio) on ‘The Slice’ between 1pm and 3pm on Thursday 24th September when they’ll be discussing rogue traders and phone scams. The show will be repeated between 4pm and 6pm on Tuesday 29th September. Tune in using the link at:

A friend at your bedside