Bemused Perthshire residents have been targeted by a foreign fraudster with an accent like comedy character Borat.
Police are warning people not to be duped by the telephone conman, who has been posing as a UK civil servant.
Perth and Kinross trading standards department confirmed the caller, who refers to himself as Mike Miller, has contacted homeowners in Crieff and Auchterarder in recent days.
Claiming to be from the Ministry of Justice, the man says the recipient of the call is due a tax rebate of £2,800. He says this will be paid by cheque as soon as his office receives £100 for administration purposes.
He then requests that the cash be paid as a UKASH voucher. UKASH vouchers are used to pay for goods online by people who may not want to give out their bank details over the internet.
No one is believed to have fallen victim to the scam so far, but communities are being warned to be on their guard and to notify elderly neighbours and family members.’The number appeared to originate in Kazakhstan’Perth and Kinross Council community safety convener Willie Robertson said: ”To the best of our knowledge no one has yet fallen for this scam. The caller called himself ‘Mike Miller’ and when residents did a 1471 on the number it appeared to originate in Kazakhstan. The caller did have quite a heavy accent.”
He added: ”Government departments and local councils would not telephone people if they were due a rebate or payment of any kind that kind of business is always done by letter. Residents should never make any form of payment over the phone to someone who has called them unsolicited. If there is any doubt in your mind at all, simply end the phone call and then report the matter to trading standards.”
Tayside Police’s Sergeant Sandra Williams said the force had also been advised of the scam.
She said: ”At no time should you ever give out personal details or bank details to any person who has made an unsolicited call. If you receive such a call please report this to either Tayside Police or trading standards.”
British comedian Sasha Baron Cohen won a Golden Globe award for his satirical portrayal of Kazakhstan journalist Borat in the 2006 self-titled film.
Photo by Ian West/PA Archive