Warning about tax rebate scam telephone calls
Perth and Kinross Trading Standards Service are warning
residents to beware of a new telephone scam reported by residents
in the Crieff and Auchterarder last week.
The scam involves an unsolicited telephone call from someone
claiming to be from the Ministry of Justice. The caller, who has a
strong accent, says that the recipient of the call is due a tax
rebate of £2,800.
They say this will be paid by cheque as soon as they receive
£100 for administration purposes. They ask for this money to
be paid in the form of a UKASH voucher.
UKASH vouchers are used to pay for goods online by people who
may not want to give out their bank details over the internet. They
are available to purchase from many retailers. Each voucher has a
unique 19-digit code which is used to make online purchases.
However once you have given someone that code it is the same as
handing over cash - the money cannot be recovered.
Community Safety Convener, Councillor Willie Robertson, said:
"Complaints about these calls were received by our Trading
Standards officers last week. To the best of our knowledge no-one
has yet fallen for this scam.
"The caller called himself 'Mike Miller' and when residents did
a 1471 on the number it appeared to originate in Kazakhstan. The
caller did have quite a heavy accent.
"Government departments and local Councils would not telephone
people if they were due a rebate or payment of any kind - that kind
of business is always done by letter.
"Residents should never make any form of payment over the phone
to someone who has called them unsolicited. If there is any doubt
in your mind at all, simply end the phone call and then report the
matter to Trading Standards."
Tayside Police Community Sergeant Sandra Williams added: "We
have been advised of this scam by our colleagues in Trading
Standards and would reiterate the message given by Councillor
Robertson - at no time should you ever give out personal details or
bank details to any person who has made an unsolicited call. If you
receive such a call please report this to either Tayside Police or
Trading Standards."
