DON’T BE CONNED BY PHONE SCAMMERS
TRADING Standards Officers at North East Lincolnshire Council are reminding residents how to protect themselves against scam letters and nuisance phone calls.
The council has been made aware of a new spate of scams that are taking place in the area and is warning the public to stay alert. The reminder comes after warnings were published about a recent council tax rebate scam, in which fraudsters have been seeking residents’ bank account details after telling them they are owed a refund.
The latest con involves individuals being contacted over the phone by someone who claims to be a representative from BT. The ‘representative’ informs them that their phone will be disconnected unless they immediately pay a fee of £31 to cover the costs of an unpaid phone bill.
They tell the victim that if they do not pay, the cost to re-connect will be £118. The scam appears to be authentic as the caller tricks the victim into thinking that they have control over the phone network. The scammer asks the victim to try and make a call while they stay on the phone, making it seem like the victim’s phone has been cut off.
