Caerphilly Trading Standards have issued a warning to residents about the latest scam phone call pretending to be from the Ministry of Justice.
The warning comes after a resident was called by someone claiming to be from the Ministry of Justice and who said they had a £4,500 cheque waiting for him.
All the gentleman had to do was pay £100 in solicitors’ fees in order to claim the cheque.
The resident refused, suspecting that it was a scam, and contacted Trading Standards to report what had happened.
Cllr David Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, said: “Thankfully this resident realised it was a scam and contacted Trading Standards to report it to us, which has enabled us to issue this advice to residents.
“I would encourage residents to ensure they know who they are dealing with over the telephone and not to give any details, especially bank details and personal information out unless they are completely sure that the caller is genuine.”
Trading Standards have advised people receiving such calls to so take as many details as they can, such as phone number, address, website address and to hang up. People should then do as much research they can into the offer to check its authenticity before committing to anything.
If you are concerned that you have received a scam telephone call, please contact Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team on 01495 235 291.
Do we really need a warning for this? Only gullible idiots would fall for such a scam.
Good on the gentleman for using common sense and ignoring the callers. I like to think we would all do the same. Thinking even further, if you are stupid enough to fall for such a scam you are probably too stupid to read articles on this website.
Observer Headline article, "People in Caerphilly County Borough “unhappy” according to statistics". I wonder if everyone they asked to contribute to those statistics were Dean and his friends?????. He never appears to be happy with anything much. He is, of course, entitled to his dismal and depressing view on all things in life.
Dean why are you so down on everyone & everything? All I see in any comments on here is you backstabbing & bitching!! Some people especially elderly people can get very flustered whilst in the phone. I for one welcome any tips we are given.
Okay, I admit, I might be full of doom and gloom but what do you expect? I'm a Daily Mail reader. Haha
On a more serious note, Kathryn. I dislike how the public are treated like incompetent children. We don't need to be told about a scam like this as we all avoid it and would not give details way anyway.
It's like when you go to a restaurant and they say "The plate is hot so don't touch it" The should just tell us it's hot. We all know not to touch hot things but they still tell us as if we are incapable of using our brains.
Another example is when weather people say it's cold so wrap up warm. Just say it's cold and tell us the temperature. I'll make the decision about what to wear.
i wish they would stop giving us common sense advice. It's unnecessary. As for the elderly who are flustered, Kathryn. I don't think they would be reading this website.
I think it's great that warnings are given to people,someone might be caught off guard so if it just saves one person being ripped off its worth giving the warning.
Dean you say you are a reader of the Daily Mail I'm surprised you read any news papers as you seem to think you know it all.
I agree with Kathryn, most days you are on here with all your negative thoughts it might be a good idea if you just stuck with your Daily Mail after all you never have anything good to say on here I feel sorry for you .
Maybe elderly people don't. However I do. My parents are in their 70s so I use things like this to warn them. They aren't stupid people but even the most suspicious of people can get caught out. If we weren't warned & someone got caught out that would be wrong too !
No one knows everything Ron, not even politicians…
How can you possibly be surprised that I read a newspaper when I read this online newspaper? My favourite is the Telegraph though.
Kathryn, if someone is caught out in the scam mentioned above, they deserve everything they get for being so naive. It's almost as silly as the Nigerian banker one.
I think it's better to be negative. Let's focus on the negative and change the negative into a positive. It's like being at work and having your boss praise you for some work you have done. I don't want to be praised. I want to be criticised. If I am criticised I know where I can improve for next time.
Dean, you say:-
"if someone is caught out in the scam mentioned above, they deserve everything they get for being so naive. It’s almost as silly as the Nigerian banker one.
I think it’s better to be negative. Let’s focus on the negative and change the negative into a positive. It’s like being at work and having your boss praise you for some work you have done. I don’t want to be praised. I want to be criticised. If I am criticised I know where I can improve for next time".
What a pathetic, screwed way to run a life.
Completely disagree Jeff. Far more gets done and I find myself becoming better at things. I begin to realise that I always have a lot to learn no matter how much I think I know and I keep on striving for perfection.
What's screwed up and pathetic is when someone receives a little bit of praise, forever sits on their high horse and becomes an oracle of something. If it's an opinion they are holding, fine but when it's facts…
Back to square one Dean: You NOW say "we all have a lot to learn", you say this in support of the perverse way in which you say you approach life, i.e. always think the negative and take the negative approach to day to day issues. Well, it is precisely because we all have a lot to learn that the issuing of this warning by CCBC and it`s Cabinet Members is a good idea. Not aimed, as you say at IDIOTS,but normal run of the mill citizens who appreciate these early warning of criminal activity.
Jeff, I totally agree with you.maybe if Dean was warning us it would be a good idea,what if the warning did not go out ? the first thing Dean would be saying is 'we should have been warned' just can't win with Dean best ignored I think as he never says anything positive to say the least.
No Ron, no Jeff. If the warning did not go out I wouldn't mind as i wouldn't fall for such a silly scam.
Obviously there are thing we already know and don't need to learn Jeff. E.g. we all know that 2+2=4. In a similar way we know that any call asking for bank details is a scam and only idiots give details when asked. The proper thing to do if they claim to be from your bank, is to put down your phone and call your bank using the number your bank gives on their official documents/website.
Obviously, you don't need my advice on the bank as we all know that already.
It's obviously half-term.
Jeez must be great to be so perfect!! What a delightful attitude you have by the way. God help your family.
Haha Clive, we're bickering like children again.
Dean; You admit you are bickering like a child, and accuse all your adversaries of being idiots, well done my friend.