SDLP Finance spokesperson Dominic Bradley MLA has urged constituents to be vigilant of calls from a company claiming to offer refunds on bank charges.
The Newry and Armagh Assemblyman was speaking after being contacted by concerned constituents who requested that the public be alerted.
Mr Bradley said: “I have been contacted by some very concerned constituents whose older relatives have received calls from a company claiming to be from ‘the UK Finance Department’. The ‘agent’ on the other end of the phone advised of a refund due in banking fees and proceeded to ask for personal details, such as date of birth and bank account details, to process the refund.
“When questioned as to why such details were needed or about the address of ‘the UK Department of Finance’, the agent hung up.
“This is clearly a scam and what is especially worrying about it is that constituents who contacted me have advised they feared that elderly relatives could easily fall victim to the scam.
“I would urge people not to reveal bank details or other personal data over the phone without authenticating the source.’
“If someone phones offering what seems to be an offer which is too good to be true, then it probably is too good to be true. These people are quite clearly out to defraud and I would urge constituents to be extremely vigilant and to alert older relatives to this scam.
“I will be contacting the police and consumer organisations to ask them to help highlight this attempt to fraud.”
