I think my Dad has been scammed... is there anything I can do

forgotmyname

Opening a watchshop on ebay? Not a physical shop?

Selling cheap chinese watches that look like a million $ worth but to you only ££..

Lied or exaggerated or just sales spiel?

I wonder if we will all be the same when we get older? Buying flying pigs from dodgy people who knock on the door, Or will there be new scams for us to worry about?

fred7777

94th_Minute wrote: »

It seems strange to have contact details to go along with a scam. Is there any thoughts on what I can do because he seems devastated by it

Can't give you any thoughts without you giving us the whole story, what we need and you haven't told us is:

1. What did he buy?
2. How much did he spend?
3.Why is he devastated?

ILW

ThumbRemote wrote: »

The manufacturing cost is irrelevant.

If, as real1314 says, the watches were misrepresented (eg they are often sold cheaply) or the sellers lied (they aren't opening a watch shop) then this is illegal under the consumer protection from unfair trading regulations.

All a bit irrelevant as you will never track down these people. This used to be a common operation in motorway services carparks. The watch will probably be OK and I would suspect cost around £40 or £50 so not a massive "loss".

tinkerbell28

Whether they are caught or not. If the police and trading standards are notified. They can put out a notice that con artists are working in the area. So they can tell people like care in the community, etc, etc.

So people are aware, then if more people come forward, the more chance of catching them. They can watch out for it.

ILW

tinkerbell28 wrote: »

Whether they are caught or not. If the police and trading standards are notified. They can put out a notice that con artists are working in the area. So they can tell people like care in the community, etc, etc.

So people are aware, then if more people come forward, the more chance of catching them. They can watch out for it.

Still doubt it could be proven they have done anything illegal.

tinkerbell28

ILW wrote: »

Still doubt it could be proven they have done anything illegal.

I think otherwise. There are laws to protect against this kind of thing. I am sure someone who can quote chapter and verse can say exactly what they are.

ILW

tinkerbell28 wrote: »

I think otherwise. There are laws to protect against this kind of thing. I am sure someone who can quote chapter and verse can say exactly what they are.

Wish someone could name an offense. To my knowledge there are no legally defined maximum profit margins, or any regulations saying that items have to be retailed at any sort of regulated price. misrepresentation possibly, but in the end a watch is a watch. I do not believe these sellers sell fakes, which would be illegal.

Valli

Publicity is the death knell to these cons - because that's what they are really - con tricks. The OP's father, like many before him, has been conned into buying items that have probably been misrepresented to him.

The OP's dad probably now realises that's what's happened - and that's why he's 'devastated'.

tinkerbell28

ILW wrote: »

Wish someone could name an offense. To my knowledge there are no legally defined maximum profit margins, or any regulations saying that items have to be retailed at any sort of regulated price. misrepresentation possibly, but in the end a watch is a watch. I do not believe these sellers sell fakes, which would be illegal.

Hopefully they can as it is definitely something TS are hot on. On the door selling and services designed to rip people off.

So there must be specific legislation somewhere, otherwise they wouldn't bother.

Valli

The relevant Law is actually the SoGA -

here

http://www.claimsfinancial.co.uk/consumer-news/your-rights-when-dealing-with-door-to-door-salesmen-1003014.aspx

THIS is what Trading Standards have to say about it

My feeling is that the two callers the OPs dad had visit him are nothing to do with the company they left the contact details for.