Merthyr Tydfil Trading Standards Warning

Merthyr Tydfil Trading Standards are warning residents to be suspicious of unexpected phone calls asking for immediate payment for Local Authority services such as Lifeline. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Our neighbouring authority Caerphilly has received a complaint where a resident was telephoned and asked to pay for renewal of his Careline equipment, the resident gave their bank details but discovered later that the call was a scam. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Merthyr Tydfil Lifeline state they send invoices for payment and would never telephone a resident asking for payment over the telephone. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Trading Standards advice is if you receive an unexpected call never confirm your name or address just end the call or ask that the caller write to the resident instead, if the call is genuine they will have your full details in their records. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you think you may have received such a call or given bank or personal details please contact Trading Standards on 03454 040506. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​