Bogus caller warning

South Lanarkshire Council are urging residents in Rutherglen and Cambuslang to keep themselves safe from bogus callers.

The authority was marking the end of Scam Awareness Month which took place throughout July.

Bogus callers a re continuing to target elderly and vulnerable householders across the UK – even posing as trading standards officers to dupe their victims.

Earlier this year, the Reformer reported that a 79-year-old man was conned out of £2000 by three bogus workmen in the Bankhead area of Rutherglen.

Councillor Hamish Stewart, chair of the council’s commu n i t y services committee, said: “As an authority that provides a trading standards function these kind of cases really concern us.

“All too often criminals pose as charity workers, trading standards officers, government officials and even the police, to gain people’s trust.

“But if a genuine person comes to your door they will be only too happy to wait while you check their identification, or if you tell them to come back another time because you are unsure.

“Like any public official, our trading standards officers would never ask for money from the public, let alone a victim, to help bring a criminal to justice.”

South Lanarkshire officers highlighted one case which saw a couple from Surrey lose £900,000 in a scam involving a bogus trading standards officer.

Gary Andrew Booker, 55, was jailed for three-and-ahalf years for his part in the crime, earlier this month.

Residents who think they have been targeted by fraudsters, or have actually fallen victim, can report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. For local advice email South Lanarkshire Trading Standards at consumer. enquiries@southlanarkshire. gov.uk.