Caerphilly Trading Standards are warning residents to be suspicious of unexpected phone calls asking for immediate payment for local council services such as Lifeline.
Trading Standards officers have received a complaint where a resident was telephoned and asked to pay for renewal of his Careline equipment. The resident gave the caller his bank details but discovered later that the call was a scam.
Luckily relatives intervened and no money was taken. The council has said complaints have recently increased concerning telephone callers claiming to be from official bodies asking for payments for things such as council tax, parking tickets and tax rebates and asking for bank details.
Trading Standards advice is if residents receive an unexpected call, to never confirm their name or address or give out bank details. Simply either end the call or ask that the caller put it in writing – if the call is genuine they will have the address details in their records.
Residents who think they may have received such a call or given bank or personal details can contact Trading Standards on 01495 235 291.