Police alert after scammers strike
POLICE have issued a warning about a spate of ongoing scams targeting Halton residents.
Runcorn police community support officer (PCSO) Lucy Cornock urged residents to be vigilant.
One Runcorn resident received a phone call from someone claiming to be from the communications regulator Ofcom and that her email had been hacked.
The call was automated and asked the person answering to press 1 on the keypad to speak to comeone.
But pressing the buttom would have prompted a request for her details or passed her to a premium number.
PCSO Cornock said there is a second Ofcom scam where the bogus caller claims there is an outstanding bill or payment for the phone or broadband service with a threat to disconnect them if the payment is not made.
Residents are warned that Ofcom is a regulator and does not provide broadband or email services and would not know whether an account has been hacked or if cash is owed.
Anyone receiving such a call should hang up.
Halton consumers have also been contacted by bogus callers claiming to be from BT claiming their internet will be cut off in 24 hours because of a problem detected.
Residents are urged not to provide any details and to put down the phone.
A scammer also contacted a Halton internet user with an email claiming that their niece wants £300 of Apple iTunes vouchers and that they should reply with a picture of the codes.
Do not respond as it is a scam designed to defraud the recipient.
Another criminal resorted to pretending to offer a refund on the Halton woman’s TV Licence, featuring an image from the real TV Licensing website.
Clicking on the link leads to a form aimed at tricking victims into handing over their personal details. Do not be fooled.