Telephone Scam

CNES Trading Standards are advising residents that there is a current telephone scam circulating in the islands where you are telephoned and informed by a recorded message that you have an outstanding HMRC tax fraud against you, and that you will be arrested if you do not pay immediately.

A spokesperson said

“This scam is designed to create a sense of urgency to get people to make decisions without thinking things through.

Often scammers will use speed and surprise to try to catch you out, the caller will put you under pressure so that you feel you have no choice but to respond to the scam.

Everyone is a target for scammers  and  it is now estimated that every 15 seconds someone in the UK gets scammed.

Our best advice is to end the call, and if possible block the callers number , as we are aware of residents having received numerous calls from the same scammers.”

If you have been scammed or if you are aware of a scam please contact Trading Standards on 01851 822694 or Advice Direct Scotland on 08081 646000.

More help and  information on avoiding scam (Opens in a new window or downloads a file)