PEOPLE are being urged to be wary following a spate of bogus e-mails and phone calls claiming to be from bank or council officials or government-backed debt advice services.
The warning has come from Worcestershire Regulatory Services who also received information about door-to-door contractors falsely claiming to be council-approved.
Consumer protection officials say any calls claiming to be from the local council and offering a tax rebate, in which they ask for personal banking details, will be fraudulent.
Calls claiming to offer debt advice for excessive amounts of money should also be treated with caution.
Free legitimate, independent, help and advice with debts is available from the National Debtline on 0808 8084000 or from the Citizens Advice Bureau on 08454 040506.
A list of legitimate contractors can be found on the Worcestershire Regulatory Services’ Trader Register at traderregister.org.uk/worcestershire
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