Beware con cold calls, warns Citizens' Advice Bureau

In one con, a cold caller tells householders that they represent a company which has recovered money from a mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance polic , but needs payment to complete the process.

“The cold caller states that they have already claimed the money but need additional money to complete the process.

“A company cannot claim for mis-sold PPI insurance without the authority of the policy holder so if someone calls and states that they have done this it is likely to be a scam.”

“A company cannot claim for mis-sold PPI insurance without the authority of the policy holder so if someone calls and states that they have done this it is likely to be a scam,” says the bureau.

The second scam involves cold callers claiming that there is a problem with the telephone or that the householder’s computer needs “speeding up”.

The spokesman added: “People who are called are asked to go to a website and input some details into the address bar.

“After doing this, personal folders appear on the screen and a green progress bar appears at the bottom of the screen. 

“It appears that personal files are being uploaded from the computer to another location.

“The cold caller may also ask for bank details so that they can receive a payment for fixing the ‘computer problems’.

“This appears to be scam designed to gather personal information and money from people.”

Anyone who thinks they have been targeted by a possible scam call to contact Rotherham CAB on 01709 515680 or 08444 111 444 or South Yorkshire Police on 101.