A BOGUS official claiming to be from Halton Council has tried to con another resident.

It is the third such incident in a month.

He knocked on the door of a female Halton resident at 8.30pm on Thursday, April 9.

The caller was an older man with grey hair, glasses and well dressed in a suit.

He said that he wanted to check her home to see if she had another person living with her.

The resident noticed that the man was driving a white van which she thought was unusual and so she refused to let him into her home.

A Halton Council spokesman said: "The caller was not an employee. Visits from benefits or council tax departments would not be made at this time of night.

“Council employees will always give you their name and show their council ID.

“If you are visited by any cold caller claiming to be an official, ask to see their identity card.”

Residents are advised to phone the organisation callers claim to be from on the organisation’s published number, not a phone number that the caller gives you, to confirm their ID before you let them into your house.

Two Halton residents received phone calls from someone pretending to be from Halton Council last month.

One caller was a woman, the other a man with an Australian or New Zealand accent.

Both residents were asked for details of their bus pass and how often they used it.

Halton Council says it does not make such calls.

Its trading standards officers say if you are contacted by anybody asking about your bus pass, don’t give them any information and put the phone down.

If you think you’ve been caught out by this or any other scam contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline for advice on 03454 04 05 06.

If you think you’ve been visited by a bogus caller report it to Cheshire Police on 101.

For emergencies, phone 999.