CORONAVIRUS PHONE CALL AND VOUCHER SCAMS

DON’T BE FOOLED BY THE “COUNCIL TAX REDUCTION SCAM”

Halton Trading Standards have been made aware of residents receiving scam phone calls about the coronavirus.

The caller states you should stay in your home and then says they are going to send you two masks, hand gels and gloves. The caller then asks for your address and your bank details, as there is a charge of £29!

This is a scam, never give out your bank details or address to someone who has cold called you.

Trading Standards also wants to advise residents about an online voucher scam designed to take advantage of people’s desperation during the pandemic lockdown.

The scammers make an email in the branding of popular supermarket chains and inform the recipient that they have received a money-off voucher to assist with purchases during lockdown.

The email then directs the recipient to click a link so that they may claim the coupon. Rather than being a kind offer from some of Britain’s most popular chains, it is a fraudulent email, which aims to steal the credit card details of the recipient.

Residents should be wary of clicking links and/or inputting their card details into unsolicited emails and associated websites. If an offer sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

If you or somebody you know has been caught out by a scam or fraud please contact one of our specialist officers, Linda or Sue on 0151 511 8785 or 0151 511 8775, who are already working with people in Halton who have lost thousands of pounds to scams.

If you need advice on anything else please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline  or 0808 223 1133.

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