Warning from Wrexham Council’s Trading Standards team
Fish sellers that trade door-to-door, cold calling on your home, offering to sell ‘fresh’ fish for cash or card payments are operating within Wrexham. This black market fish often comes with no proper packaging, has no species or date information present, and is likely to have been transported in a non-refrigerated vehicle putting your health at risk.
Whilst there are many legitimate fish sellers who trade in our communities, unfortunately it is not uncommon to receive a visit from these criminal traders trying to sell you large quantities of fish at extortionate prices. Many offer to come into your home to put them in your freezer, and they will be long gone before you realise the inedible products they’ve left behind.
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Prey on older and vulnerable people
Like most cold callers at your home, these criminals prey on older and vulnerable people and will pressurise you into making purchases that are not wanted or needed. As well as making demands for cash payments, they’ve been known to use hand held card machines where they inset large amounts hidden from the purchaser not allowing them to see what has been charged. No receipts are given, and price lists or business information including names or phone numbers may be false.
With no details to trace these conmen, once they have gone you’ll be left with a product that from a safety aspect should never be eaten.
Our advice is to never deal with anyone at your door.
Report incidents to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 113 or for the Welsh Speaking service on 0808 223 1144. Alternatively call Police Non-Emergency on 101.
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