A Runcorn resident has received the email (attached) which is a convincing scam, leading to a warning from experts at Halton Borough Council
The email gives 24 hours’ notice that your email address will stop working unless you add it to your Broadband account at the link they provide.
You are also told that unless you do this before the deadline you will lose all of your messages and contacts. Scammers often use short deadlines and scare tactics to get you to act quickly without checking things out first.
Trading Standards Officers say ff you receive this email, delete it without opening or clicking on any links.
See the information in red text which explains how we know this is a scam.
Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for Trading Standards, Cllr Dave Cargill, said: “We are calling on the public to be more aware of how they could be scammed, and to report it if they get caught out.
“With so many people being caught by scammers there is no reason to be embarrassed – and every reason to report incidents and help the authorities put a stop to it.
“Halton Trading Standards officers been working with people who have been caught out by scams – some have lost hundreds of pounds whilst others have lost tens of thousands.
“As well as losing money, being scammed has affected people’s health. One in three people said they had lost sleep and half said they felt embarrassed about being caught out by a scam. People talked about feeling swamped by the letters and intimidated by the number of cold calls. ”
If you want to talk to us about scams contact Linda or Sue on 0151 511 8785 or 0151 511 8775, who are already working with people in Halton who have lost thousands of pounds to scams.
If you need advice on anything else please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06.