Residents are being alerted to a spate of unsolicited and potentially fraudulent telephone calls from someone purporting to be from City of York Council.
The caller, who withholds their number, claims to be from ‘York City Council’. Most calls appear to be from men who say they are aware that someone in the household has been in an accident or has witnessed an accident and that this could give rise to a claim.
He has, in one call, claimed to be ringing from the council on behalf of the NHS. When questioned about the authenticity of the call, the caller puts the phone down.
The caller is not from City of York Council and could be trying to obtain personal information for fraudulent purposes. This information could also be passed to a third party who may misuse any facts shared. In addition, such nuisance calls are an unwanted intrusion and can cause distress, particularly to older residents.
City of York Council urges residents not to disclose any personal information to unsolicited callers, but to report any such cold calls and provide – if possible – the caller’s number, by calling the Citizens Advice Bureau consumer helpline on 03454 040506.