Bogus council callers warning

Pembrokeshire County Council Trading Standards officers are warning the public to beware of bogus phone calls claiming to be from the Authority. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A number of Fishguard residents have reported receiving suspicious calls claiming to be from the County Council or the Town Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In some instances the caller has claimed it is regarding an accident insurance claim. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pembrokeshire Trading Standards advise residents who receive an unexpected and suspicious phone call claiming to be from the Council, not to provide any details unless they have first carried out a check to verify if the call is genuine. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ask the caller for their name and job title, put the phone down and after a few minutes telephone the Council switchboard on 01437 764551 and ask to be put through to the person. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Huw George, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services said: “If you, or a member of your household, have not even had an accident then it is clearly a bogus call. If you have an ongoing insurance claim, contact your insurance company direct to verify a suspicious insurance call.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Residents and businesses can register for free with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) not to receive unsolicited telesales calls which originate in the UK. The TPS is the only official opt-out service provider contracted by the watchdog body, Ofcom. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is a legal requirement that businesses do not make marketing calls to numbers – including mobile phones – registered with the TPS. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However, registering with the TPS does not prevent calls from overseas, market research calls or fraudulent calls. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To register on-line with theTPS, log onto: www.tpsonline.org.uk or phone: 0845 070 0707. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you are already registered with the TPS and receive a telesales call or have previously told a business not to contact you again but they ignore your request, you can report it to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on: 0303 123 1113. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Silent calls can be reported to the Ofcom helpline: 0300123 3333. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you wish to report a suspicious or nuisance call or to find out more about your consumer rights, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline on 0345 4040506 or 0345 4040505 to speak to a Welsh speaking advisor. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​