Insurance Company Scam Targets Powys Resident

Residents in Powys are being warned of a telephone scam that has hit the county with the scammers claiming to be calling from an insurance company working on behalf of the county council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Powys County Council has issued the warning after a resident from north Powys contacted the council after their telephone number had been targeted by scammers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scam involved the resident being contacted by a foreign-sounding man from an insurance company working on behalf of the county council. They contacted the resident claiming that they had been in a car accident involving a council vehicle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The resident, who does not drive, did not provide any details and hung up on the scammer. They reported the incident to the council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr John Powell, Cabinet Member for Trading Standards, said: “Residents need to be vigilant about these unscrupulous activities. These individuals will try multiple methods to deceive people but they will particularly look for vulnerable or unsuspecting residents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If a resident has logged an insurance claim with the council, we would either contact the resident directly or an insurance company working on our behalf would contact the claimant. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“However, if you’re contacted by anyone claiming to be an insurance company when you’ve not submitted a claim or have no knowledge of the incident, it is likely to be a scam call. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“People need to be extremely cautious if they receive one of these calls and if they are in any doubt, should not provide any personal details and end the call. These scammers have no morals, can be very persistent and can be very rude to residents if they don’t get what they want.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To reduce the risks of falling for cold call scams, residents and businesses should follow the following tips: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

– Be wary of unsolicited callers suggesting or implying that you are due money
– Never provide your personal details or bank details
– Don’t take unsolicited calls when you are busy and can’t give the salesman your full attention – if you want to talk, ask them to call back at a convenient time
– Don’t agree to something on the phone just to get rid of a persistent caller
– If you’re not clear about who you are speaking to, terminate the call. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​