HOUSEHOLDERS are being warned to be vigilant after fake bills claiming to be from 02 have been detected.

Halton Council urging people to be on their guard after a resident received a scam e-mail.

Trading Standards officers were alerted and immediately discovered tell tale signs showing the invoice was fraudulent.

The website quoted had nothing to do with 02 and certain words such as ‘watch’ your bill instead of ‘view’ were found.

Halton Cllr Dave Cargill, board member for trading standards said: "The e-mail is intended to cause alarm and prompt an immediate reaction.

"If you receive an email like this delete it without opening or clicking on any links."

The warning comes at the start of scam awareness month.

Scammers are often experts in human behaviour, waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting, the shopper short of time or the consumer looking for a bargain.

Citizens Advice and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Halton Trading Standards and Citizens Advice Halton are raising awareness of scams.

Trading Standards scams experts will be Halton Direct Links in Widnes today until 2pm, in Runcorn between 11 am and 2 pm on Tuesday, July 11 and Thursday, July 20 and in Widnes on Thursday, July 27.

Anyone who has received a scam should report it to Trading Standards on 0151 511 8785 or 0151 511 8775.