2:28pm Friday 3rd September 2010
By Gazette newsdesk
SOUTH Lakeland District Council has warned of a telephone scam where the caller pretends to be from the council.
A pensioner was contacted earlier this week by a woman called ‘Jennifer’ who said she was from SLDC’S Confirmation Department.
She told the pensioner that she had overpaid her council tax and was due a refund of over £1,500.
She then asked the pensioner to give her details of her bank account so the money could be paid in directly, and then gave a fake reference number and bogus telephone number, 0905 005 0400.
However, the pensioner was suspicious and didn’t give out correct bank details.
SLDC said it would never ask for any personal information or bank account details over the phone.
Alan Raven, revenues and benefits manager, said: “We would never phone and ask for any personal details or bank account information.
“If we need to make contact we would do this via letter or we would arrange a face-to-face interview. I would urge anyone who is contacted via phone to never give out any bank details or personal information.”
SLDC said the scam had already hit other parts of the country targeting tax payers, falsely claiming they are eligible to a tax rebate.
Councils and police in Wales issued a similar warning earlier this week after the scam hit victims there.
SLDC has contacted Trading Standards through Consumer Direct who keep a record of all scams across the country.
The council has also warned Age UK (formerly Age Concern).
*If you think you have been targeted by a potential scam call Consumer Direct on 0845 404 0506 or if you want to want to check the accuracy of any calls made to SLDC you can call our Customer Contact Centre on 0845 050 4434.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/trade_directory/