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Warning over Blackburn and Darwen rubbish penalty scam
4:02pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008
Thieves are phoning residents in Blackburn and Darwen claiming they have been issued with a £70 fixed penalty notice for leaving extra rubbish beside their bin, the council has warned.
The fraudsters then ask residents for their bank details, claiming they are needed to pay the fine.
One local resident, who reported the scam to the police and the Council, was repeatedly asked for details as the thieves tried to pressurise him into giving the information.
The new scam has prompted Blackburn with Darwen Council’s trading standards team to issue an urgent warning to people never to reveal their bank details to a cold caller.
Chris Allen, head of environmental health and trading standards, said: “The council never phones residents to issue fixed penalty notices and the only time we would ask for bank details over the phone is when people have called us directly.”
”If someone has left extra waste beside their bin they will receive a warning letter, known as a Section 46 notice.
"If they repeat the offence, they will be sent a fixed penalty notice by post.
”People should always be extremely cautious about revealing any important information like this over the phone.
”If in doubt, ask for the caller’s details and phone their organisation to check their identity.
"If they refuse to give them, hang up and report the call to the police and Consumer Direct on 08454 040 506."
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