BOGUS COLLECTORS AT LARGE

HOUSEHOLDERS have been urged to ‘get a chain on their door’ after a spate of incidents in which fraudsters have posed as council staff attempting to collect the household charge from the elderly.

The Irish Daily Mail yesterday revealed that a number of homes in Co. Meath had been targeted for payment of €100 in cash.

This came after Environment Minister Phil Hogan announced plans to send local authority workers door to door to remind residents to pay the charge.

It has emerged that homes in other parts of the country have been targeted. Gardaí have advised people to be vigilant.

Laois County Council said it had received tip-offs concerning fraudsters calling to properties this week. The most recent reports concern two men visiting homes in the Mountmellick area. Yesterday, a man in his 20s also sought the €100 fee from homes in Stradbally. Anne Marie Kirrane, senior staff officer at the council’s finance department, said council staff were not currently collecting the charge.

She told local radio station Midlands 103 that council staff would always present formal ID, and advised anyone suspicious about a person claiming to be a council worker to contact gardaí.

A number of homes in Co. Donegal have also been targeted. Donegal County Council issued an urgent warning, saying it had asked gardaí to investigate reports that conmen were posing as household tax collectors and taking €100 from pensioners. There have been incidents in Buncrana and Glengad in the past two days. The council said it is not collecting the charge door-to-door.

Sinn Féin councillor Mick Quinn said: ‘Anyone who is asked for this payment should call gardaí immediately.’ Eamon Timmins of Age Action advised homeowners to ‘buy a chain for your door and keep it locked’.