Press release from Council: – let me know if you get such a call.

Fraudsters claiming to be able to cut household energy bills are targeting homes in County Durham.

Durham County Council’s Fair Trading Team is warning people about a telephone scam by a business offering to supply a device which can save 40 per cent on energy costs.

A caller, claiming to be using a secure phone line, asks for credit card or bank details so the product can be sent out by post.

This is a sophisticated scam, with trading standards officers elsewhere in the country having concerns over the safety of the device, which costs £99 and does not provide the savings claimed.

The caller appears very credible and often already has personal information about the householder including which energy supplier they use and some or all of their debit or credit card details.

Information from other local authorities also suggests that some victims of the scam have received a further call from someone claiming to work for a claims management company.

This second caller says they will send a cheque for between £2,000 and £3,000 as compensation if the householder buys a money transfer voucher for up to £300. This money is completely untraceable once it has been paid.

Joanne Waller, Durham County Council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “These unscrupulous businesses appear to be operating a scam from outside the UK targeting older people who may be attracted to a solution to rising gas and electricity prices.”

Cllr Bob Young, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for strategic environment, said: “In these difficult economic times, residents need to be wary of scams claiming to help them save money.

“Never give out personal information such as your credit card or bank details to anyone you don’t know and take care when calling firms back.

“Some scammers provide numbers that are premium rate so they can net even more money from their victims.”