Trading Standards officers have warned of a cold caller who falsely claims to be a member of their team.
An Oxfordshire trader and a concerned resident said they were contacted by a mystery caller posing as a trading standards officer and a representative of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
He said they could claim back money overcharged by banks, and asked them to confirm addresses and bank details.
People who stayed on the line were told the OFT would require a payment of £199 to recover the funds.
The trader said someone claiming to be from trading standards organised an inspection visit but didn’t turned up.
An investigation revealed no appointment had been made.
Richard Webb, acting head of the county council’s trading standards service, said: “We urge residents and businesses to be wary of cold calls from anyone claiming to be from Trading Standards or the OFT and to never reveal bank details or personal information over the phone.”
Anyone with information should call trading standards on 0845 051 0845.
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