People in Lichfield and Burntwood are being warned about a cold calling scam.
Staffordshire County Council say they have received a number of reports about fraudsters claiming they are from the council and asking for personal details.
Trading standards estimate hundreds of calls have been made by people claiming to be from the authority’s accident management department and that the resident is eligible for compensation. The callers then start to ask for personal details.
Staffordshire County Council’s trading standards leader Gill Heath said: “People should always be wary of cold calls as this is a common method used by fraudsters.
“In this case they are using the county council name to front their scam. Anyone from a reputable organisation will not cold call and ask for personal details.
Our advice is simple – hang up and report it if they choose to.
“Our trading standards team has received a number of calls about this scam, though typically the full number is ten times that amount.
“We’d also ask people to advise more vulnerable friends or relatives about these calls.”
To report a suspected scam call ring 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk.