Local businesses in Lincoln have been put on high alert, due to a spate of scams involving impersonators posing as council officials. These fraudsters are targeting alcohol licence holders in particular, attempting to extract renewal fees from them. The City of Lincoln Council is actively urging those who receive suspicious calls to avoid sharing personal details and to refrain from transferring any payments.
Ben Jackson, public protection and licensing manager for the council, has underlined the significant strain the scams are placing on businesses that are already financially challenged. Jackson has said of the scam: ‘This is particularly impactful, given the existing struggles some businesses are facing.’ Acknowledging that some victims have already lost money, he referred to the scam as ‘persuasive’.
The council was first alerted about the fraudulent scheme through public reports. Though Jackson is unsure of how the scammers obtained the victims’ contact information, he speculated that the scheme could be operating across the nation.
Characterising the scam as ‘quite innovative,’ Jackson has advised businesses to remain cautious and hang up on any call that arouses suspicion. He also emphasised the need for any suspicious activities to be reported to the relevant authorities.
According to the council, its standard procedure does not involve requesting payments over the phone. Genuine licence renewals are communicated through official invoices and written reminders. While council officers may contact licence holders by phone if there is an issue with a correspondence address, they are clear that payment will never be demanded during such communications.
This article was originally reported by www.bbc.com and adapted by The Lincoln Post.
