RESIDENTS are being warned to be on their guard after a man was targeted by a telephone scam where the caller claims to be offering £9,000.

The would-be victim of the crime was cold-called by a someone claiming to be from the Ministry of Justice, who said that they required the resident’s bank details in order to pay £9,000 into their bank account.

The sales pitch also used reference to the Government, Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) and that the resident had been selected of one of 2,000 people as part of a survey.

Fortunately the resident did not pass on any details and instead referred the matter to Caerphilly Trading Standards, who have confirmed with the Ministry of Justice that the call was indeed part of a telephone scam.

Caerphilly Trading Standards is warning people across the county borough to be wary of con artists, after news that a woman had been duped out of £6,000 in a similar scam elsewhere in the UK.

Cllr David Poole, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, said: “I would like to echo the calls made by Caerphilly Trading Standards for residents to be aware that there are people out there who will try and fraudulently take away their hard-earned cash.

“The old adage ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is’, always applies in these cases. Some of these conmen and women can be very convincing, but you should never give out your personal or financial details to someone you do not know or trust. Don’t be one of the unlucky victims – if in doubt call Caerphilly Trading Standards about your concerns.”

Residents who feel they have been targeted or the subject of a scam should contact Caerphilly Trading Standards on 01495 235291. For more information or to report fraudulent activity online visit www.actionfraud.police.uk