Warning on Carmarthenshire conmen
Trading Standards officers in Carmarthenshire are warning about conmen pretending to take advertisements for Crimestoppers Wales on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council.
The county council’s Trading Standards Service has issued the warning following an incident in which a trader was contacted recently.
The trader who is setting up in business and who has not advertised at all as yet was surprised to be contacted by phone recently by a man who stated that he was phoning on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council seeking sponsorship for an advertisement on Crimestoppers Wales.
The caller claimed that the county council’s economic development department was backing the scheme and even named individuals, none of whom work for the authority. He said he was working for a third party employed by the council to seek sponsorship for advertisements.
The caller then asked for bank details in order to obtain payment. The trader thought it sounded a bit strange and asked for the caller's company name and phone number as the number had been withheld. The caller immediately put the phone down.
Carmarthenshire County Council Trading Standards Officer Aled Thomas said: “Occasionally Crimestoppers Wales writes to businesses but never contacts them by phone and has not given any sort of instruction to seek advertising in this case.”
Executive board member for public protection Cllr Pam Palmer said: “I would urge people not to fall for this scam. The county council is not seeking sponsorship adverts on behalf of Crimestoppers Wales.”
Stuart Taylor, Crimestoppers Wales Committee Chairman: “Crimestoppers is aware of similar scams in other areas of the UK, and although they are rare, we are concerned that members of the public are being targeted in this unscrupulous way.”
Crimestoppers is an independent crime-fighting charity, and like all charities require funds to support our valuable work in communities across Wales.
However, Crimestoppers never makes cold calls or asks for people’s bank details over the phone, so if anyone is approached to advertise with or on behalf of Crimestoppers and believe the call could be a scam.
Please ignore the request and contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 if you know who the caller is, and Action Fraud www.actionfraud.org.uk if you don’t.
The county council’s Trading Standards Service has issued the warning following an incident in which a trader was contacted recently.
The trader who is setting up in business and who has not advertised at all as yet was surprised to be contacted by phone recently by a man who stated that he was phoning on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council seeking sponsorship for an advertisement on Crimestoppers Wales.
The caller claimed that the county council’s economic development department was backing the scheme and even named individuals, none of whom work for the authority. He said he was working for a third party employed by the council to seek sponsorship for advertisements.
The caller then asked for bank details in order to obtain payment. The trader thought it sounded a bit strange and asked for the caller's company name and phone number as the number had been withheld. The caller immediately put the phone down.
Carmarthenshire County Council Trading Standards Officer Aled Thomas said: “Occasionally Crimestoppers Wales writes to businesses but never contacts them by phone and has not given any sort of instruction to seek advertising in this case.”
Executive board member for public protection Cllr Pam Palmer said: “I would urge people not to fall for this scam. The county council is not seeking sponsorship adverts on behalf of Crimestoppers Wales.”
Stuart Taylor, Crimestoppers Wales Committee Chairman: “Crimestoppers is aware of similar scams in other areas of the UK, and although they are rare, we are concerned that members of the public are being targeted in this unscrupulous way.”
Crimestoppers is an independent crime-fighting charity, and like all charities require funds to support our valuable work in communities across Wales.
However, Crimestoppers never makes cold calls or asks for people’s bank details over the phone, so if anyone is approached to advertise with or on behalf of Crimestoppers and believe the call could be a scam.
Please ignore the request and contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 if you know who the caller is, and Action Fraud www.actionfraud.org.uk if you don’t.
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