Post by Madhatter on Feb 12, 2010 16:59:16 GMT
New telephone scam hits Herefordshire
The council is warning householders to be on their guard after a local woman received a bogus call saying that her council tax banding was being reduced.
The resident received a call from someone who gave her name as Margaret and told her that there was a one off fee of £39.99 for her council tax to be reduced. She put her through to a man who took her bank details. She did not catch the man's name. When the call was finished she dialled 1471 and message was 'caller withheld'.
The resident called the council to check and was advised to contact her bank urgently to explain what had happened, and to inform the police. Similar warnings have been issued from
Newcastle to Portsmouth , as variations on the scam are growing across the country. No council would ever contact a resident in this manner on such issues and would never ask for bank details over the phone to make refunds.
Home owners are asked to remain alert to scams designed to find out bank details and if possible, keep an eye on vulnerable older family members or neighbours.
