A staggering number of online businesses have been found operating within Perth and Kinross, many without any regulation.
The rise and rise of the internet has seen many entrepreneurs moving into e-commerce, some becoming respectable retailers, others unscrupulous or using the internet to cut corners.
So significant is the sector that the Perth and Kinross Council’s Trading Standards service now employs an officer whose full time role is to monitor e-commerce within the area.
That has shone a light on a wealth of businesses being operated from within Perth and Kinross and it is the size of some that has been the greatest surprise.
“It’s amazing how many businesses we simply didn’t know about, yet were operating within Perth and Kinross,” Trading Standards manager Sandy Nicoll said.
“Some of them are quite substantial and not all are operating within normal business regulations. We have found a number that have been operating without the correct licences-such as those who were selling alcohol and who should have had off-sales licences.
“Internet e-commerce is not just confined to Perth and Kinross it is international and I believe the work we do to police businesses enhances the area’s reputation and ensures that retailers are not breaking the law.”
It is up to Trading Standards to ensure that the businesses are regulated and also that they are not selling shoddy or even counterfeit goods.
Recent statistics from Perth and Kinross Trading Standards reveal that up to two-thirds of internet retailers fail to comply with legal requirements.Survey resultsA year-long survey of 80 locally-based websites found that only 11 were fully compliant with regulations upon first inspection.
Six websites ceased trading after being contacted and while some have already upped their game, enforcement action is being undertaken against others to ensure compliance.
The relative anonymity offered by the internet has also been of benefit to more organised criminals, such as counterfeiters, who have moved away from traditional avenues of sale like car boot sales and open-air markets to target buyers online.
Trading Standards are co-operating with the Scottish Crime Agency to crack down on those responsible for trafficking in counterfeit goods.
“We haven’t had the problem with counterfeit goods that we have traditionally experienced over the years,” Mr Nicoll said.
“We very successfully targeted those who used to try selling at local markets, through a mixture of enforcement and improved practices on the part of the market organisers.
“They are now largely self-policing, we work closely with them to ensure that things continue to run smoothly, and criminals now know that if they attempt to trade in Perth and Kinross then they will be caught.
“However, as is always the case, as time goes by these people find new ways of developing their criminal enterprises.
“We’ve seen people cold calling businesses and individuals in a bid to sell counterfeit and unsafe goods and these people are increasingly moving online.”
Mr Nicoll believes it is vital that online shoppers protect themselves. He recommends using a credit card for all online purchases in a bid to ensure that the minimum amount of personal and bank details are released on the internet.
He added, “The public also need to educate themselves about their rights when buying online. Information is available from a variety of sources, including Trading Standards and the Office of Fair Trading.
“Regulations give buyers a cooling off period, protection from payment card fraud and other rights and I think people should take a little time to consider these before buying online.
“Businesses should also have contactable phone numbers and addresses. If you are unsure about a business then it’s also an idea to Goggle it.”