UPDATES: A driveway trader who posed under a false name has been convicted after ripping off homeowners with shoddy, overpriced and unfinished work. An investigation uncovered fraud, illegal waste dumping and broken consumer laws, leaving victims thousands out of pocket. Now ordered to repay £11,000, the case highlights how rogue traders operate and how Trading Standards shut them down ...

UPDATES: A Plymouth glazier who intimidated customers, carried out shoddy work and misused a trusted trader logo has been sentenced after a Trading Standards prosecution. Complaints revealed fraud, threats and misleading claims that left victims distressed and out of pocket - ending with a suspended prison sentence, community service and a director ban ...

UPDATES: Hackney Trading Standards has seized more than £60,000 worth of illicit goods in a series of targeted raids on local shops. The haul included tens of thousands of illegal cigarettes, illicit vapes, counterfeit items and even controlled drugs - highlighting a major crackdown aimed at protecting consumers and supporting legitimate businesses ...

UPDATES: Five shops across Devon and Torbay have been forced to close for three months after repeatedly selling illegal tobacco and vapes. Despite prior warnings, officers uncovered hidden stashes - some using specialist detection dogs - prompting court-ordered closures and a stark warning to rogue retailers that illegal sales will not be tolerated ...

UPDATES: A builder who took up to £160,000 from homeowners and abandoned jobs mid-project has been jailed for 12 months following a Trading Standards investigation. John Arnold left properties unsafe, supplied false certificates, and caused significant stress to victims - earning a decade-long director ban and sending a stark warning to rogue tradespeople exploiting local residents ...

ANALYSIS: What began as a routine illicit tobacco check exploded into one of Wales’ biggest organised crime cases. Operation Usk exposed a £3.8m fraud network hidden behind everyday shops - and led to threats, intimidation and years of relentless investigation. This is the inside story of how Trading Standards helped take down a criminal empire, at huge personal cost ...

ANALYSIS: Scam calls and emails feel routine - but behind many of them lies a brutal reality. This article reveals how global fraud is powered by human trafficking, forced labour and violence inside scam centres, and why governments and agencies are now racing to dismantle the criminal networks exploiting victims on both sides of the screen ...

UPDATES: A cruel new scam is targeting people at their most vulnerable—grieving families and friends of the recently deceased. Fraudsters are hijacking funeral notices to steal money and personal details, prompting strong warnings from CTSI. Here’s how the scam works, why it’s so damaging, and what you can do to protect yourself and others ...