27/07/04 - Beware of fax scams

Cumbria County Council's Trading Standards officers are warning businesses throughout the County to beware of telephone fax scams, following the latest to hit the County. 

It comes in the form of a faxed letter headed ‘Urgent Request’, addressed to the ‘Accounts Department’. It implies that money is outstanding and that failure to act could result in the company’s credit rating being affected and in costly legal action. The recipient of the letter is then invited to telephone an 090 premium rate number costing £1.50 per minute. 

Phil Ashcroft, Head of Cumbria Trading Standards, says, 

"Once again innocent businesses are being targeted in a telephone fax scam. This fax is misleading and inappropriate. The regulating body for premium rate telephone numbers (ICSTIS) has pulled the plug on this particular scam and the number is no longer available, but I suspect there are many other telephone scams in existence and businesses should be on the look out for them". 

County Councillor Jack Richardson, cabinet spokesman for community safety says, 

"Legitimate businesses don’t send unsolicited faxes using a premium rate line for responses. My advice to anyone receiving a fax of this nature is to bin it".