A telephone scam artist posed as a Swindon council worker sorting coronavirus lockdown food parcels in an effort to get hold of a pensioner’s personal details, trading standards officers have warned.
The caller told the victim, a woman in her 70s, she was in charge of distributing the emergency food supplies and asked the pensioner to give her date of birth and address.
The victim refused, telling her the council should already know her address and date of birth. When the woman asked for the fraudster’s name, the caller refused and again demanded the personal details. The caller’s would-be victim was not fooled and hung up.
Swindon Borough Council trading standards officer Carla Baker said: “The council is not cold calling and the council will not be calling and asking for your personal details.
“If anybody is in doubt they should end the call and call the council on the number published online, on their council tax bill or in the phone book.”
The borough council number is 01793 445500.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article