Bogus Callers – Beware!

I know this isn’t an online scam, but hey, we’re here to keep you safe from all kinds of fraudster, we’re not biased!

We’re receiving reports of bogus telephone callers, specifically in the Swindon area at the moment, but the scam is likely to spread, claiming to represent the local Council Tax office and trying to obtain bank details to either credit the account with refunds, or to check that payments are up to date.

There have even been cases of callers going to people’s houses to try and get the same information.

Swindon Borough Council have told us that they will never try and contact their council taxpayers in this way and advise residents to take the name of the caller, end the conversation and contact Swindon Borough Council on 0845 8500 962 to check if the caller is genuine.

For readers outside Swindon, we recommend a similar course of action, calling your local council to check if the caller is genuine. Do not let these people into your home, and if you feel at all threatened, call the police immediately.

Other bogus officials may include electricity & gas meter readers, water company officials and social workers. They often target elderly people and will work in pairs, so one can distract the householder whilst the other searches for valuables.

Do not let anyone into your home without ID, and verify the identity of the caller with the authority they claim to represent. Do not ring the number on their ID card, keep a list of your supplier’s telephone numbers by the phone for this purpose.

If you have elderly relatives and you are concerned for their safety, ask your local community police officer to pay them a visit and give them crime prevention advice.

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