Argyll folk are being warned to be on their guard against a scam involving phone calls from individuals who claim to be from the Office of Fair Trading in London.
Argyll and Bute Council’s trading standards team has received six complaints in the last two days on this particular scam.
Experience suggests that only a fraction of those contacted subsequently phone trading standards, so it is likely that a far greater number of residents have been targeted.
Clues to look out for
Common to all the calls is that:
- the caller has a foreign accent
- the phone connection is of poor quality
- the caller has said he wants to send the individual a cheque. These cheques are supposedly for amounts of between £2,400 & £3,000 and relate to bank charges/mortgage interest refunds.
- the caller is deliberately vague about exactly what the refund relates to
- the householder is told that in order to ensure that a cheque is hand-delivered the next morning, all they have to do is go to the Post Office and make a payment of £199
- on at least one occasion, the caller has given his name as James Gillespie
.Councillor Daniel Kelly, chair of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee, says: ‘This is undoubtedly a scam, and I would advise anyone who receives such a call to report it.
‘I am relieved that none of the people who have complained to us so far have fallen for it, because I am absolutely certain that anyone who does as these criminals are suggesting will not see their money again.
‘Our trading standards team has spoken to the Office of Fair Trading, which said the matter is under investigation by the Ministry of Justice which suspects that the calls originate in India.
‘In the meantime, I would strongly recommend that no-one should ever send money in response to unsolicited calls of this type’.
If you get a phone call if this kind, let Argyll and Bute’s trading standards team know about it.
They can be contacted on 01546 604404.
They’ve up the ante – £4900, and started in London
Allan
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just had a call from a jazz simpson telling me I had been given refund for 4.900 all I had to do was go western union and send 100. I do not think so the number they gave me 02032861053 I live in devon whern I said this is a goverment office and would be shut on a bank holiday I was told it was a normal working day I am going tyo report this tomorrow
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Birmingham too – £4900 will be delivered at 4pm today if I can just get to my local Barclays to pay in £100!
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Got a call today caller was a woman with an Indian accent. Said had £4900 and gave me a reference number to quote and this phone number to call 0203 2861091, checked out the number which isn’t listed and it just rings. Called my local trading standards office in London who gave me a form to fill in. We need this highlighted in London.
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Just received a call offering £4900 and the number I was given to ring was 0203 286 5687. Have not tried to ring but reported to Trading Standards.
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For Angela Donald: Absolutely the right action – and to do it quickly.
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the sad thing is if they target the old and mentally infirm 4,900 wuld seem like a kings ransom
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Just received a call here in Nottingham. They were offering £5,000 for bank charges over the last six years. I didn’t wait for the number but told her I didn’t believe it and she disconnected the call.
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Alex Jones from London just called me.
It’s £5000 now with £200 tax to be paid via Ukash voucher. I have to say I quite enjoyed it because after 20 minutes of ‘playing’ with ‘Alex’ he hung up on me! Having said that I can quite believe vulnerable people falling for this and it is quite disgraceful because ‘Alex’ tried every trick in the book. Beware!
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Ah, I feel let down. I was only offered £3500 and told to pay £250 via Ukash vouchers. Alex was my caller too. I told him that I would pay the £250 once the cheque had cleared into my account. Funny the cheque didn’t arrive.
It is very sad that things like this occur and I do hope that NO ONE actually falls for this sick scam
Be aware everyone!
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