Warning after bogus caller cons Halton resident (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Halton residents warned to watch out for bogus caller

11:06am Thursday 24th January 2013 in News By Barbara Jordan

HALTON residents are being warned to watch out for a bogus caller.

It follows an incident in which a man, claiming to be from the Citizens Advice Bureau, called at the home of a local resident.

Checks show he was not a legitimate employee of this charity.

A spokesman for Halton Trading Standards said:”He gained entry to the house on the pretence of wanting to discuss the subject of power of attorney.

“He then asked for £100 in cash and a visa card number, claiming he would return with completed paperwork when a balance of £1300 would be payable.”

Trading Standards stresses that the CAB would never cold call and would only attend someone’s home on a pre-arranged appointment.

Money or bank details would never be taken from a client as the service is entirely free.

Hitesh Patel, chief executive of Halton CAB, said:“This is a disgusting criminal act that trades on public trust in our service.

"The CAB service does not undertake any cold calling activities and so to hear that someone is scamming vulnerable residents by pretending to be one of our trusted team is awful. 

"We urge all residents to be wary of all cold callers and certainly never to give out their personal details or sign anything on the door step.  If in doubt contact us or Trading Standards.”

If you have any information regarding similar incidents or circumstances, contact the police on 101 or report to Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06 If you need to report an incident as an emergency call 999.

To contact the Halton Citizens Advice Bureau call 0151 257 2449.

For general consumer advice please contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06 or visit http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/