Phone fraudsters pretending to be from Wolverhampton Council

The council's trading standards team has received a number of complaints from people calling residents, some of whom have been elderly, pretending to be from the local authority.

They tell them they are entitled to compensation following an accident and then ask for personal details or even attempt to arrange a meeting at the person's home. If the residents query the callers they have become offensive and abusive.

Residents are now being warned to be on their guard.

Andy Jervis, the council's head of regulatory services, said: "It is very concerning that these scammers seem to be targeting vulnerable residents and pretending to be from the council.

"The council would never ring people offering to put in a compensation claim and certainly would not ask for personal details over the phone.

"If you receive a suspicious call then the best thing to do is simply hang up the phone right away. Do not engage them in conversation and under no circumstances give out any information about yourself or your household.

"If you have elderly relatives or neighbours, please make sure they are aware of this alert and pass on the advice to ignore the calls."

Anyone who thinks they have been targeted by the fraudsters should call Trading Standards on 01902 551155.