Hang up on phone scammers - scams awareness month message

Each week throughout May, the two organisations are targeting different types of scams, and this week its nuisance phone calls and texts, which according to national figures account for 29 per cent of all reported scams.
Among the most popular are those offering large refunds from payment protection insurance (PPI) in return for an upfront fee.
The West Berkshire CAB has recently heard from two residents who had been contacted by PPI scammers.
The first was told that he was owed a refund of £2,800, and that if he bought £280 of Ukash vouchers a courier would collect these and provide a full refund.
The second client was told that he was owed £4,881and that it would be released once he had paid £1,100 via Moneygram.
Investment fraud, through the selling of bogus shares, courier scams from those posing as police officers or bank officials and software scams where the victim is told their computer is at risk of being hacked and bank details are required to verify their account are also common.
Residents are being urged to be savvy against such scams and are reminded that no banks or police will ask for personal credit or debit card details over the phone, and that computer firms will not
make unsolicited calls to fix a computer.
PPI refunds can be made through banks, and firms should not be paid over the telephone for delivering that service.
Anyone who suspects they are being contacted as part of such a scam is urged to hang up immediately.
For advice or to report a scam, contact West Berkshire Council’s Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06 or visit the CAB website at www.adviceguide.org.uk