Criminals masquerading as advisers from one of Dundee’s most trusted services have been targeting city residents.
The scam has involved cold callers pretending to represent the Citizens Advice Bureau and approach householders for personal information.
Callers were apparently offering money advice and requesting bank details, dates of birth and home addresses from those they targeted.
Dundee CAB director Mary Kinninmonth has urged residents not to be fooled.
Having heard of a few such cases she fears the scam could actually be far more widespread, using the service’s good name in a bid to entrap unwitting Dundonians.
She told The Courier that she feared not only the threat the criminals pose to the safety of residents but also the impact the scam could have upon the CAB’s reputation.
“I have been made aware by our advisers of a scam that’s seen clients receive calls to their mobile telephones from people claiming to represent the CAB,” she said.
“They have apparently been offering money advice and have asked people for sensitive information such as bank details, dates of birth and home addresses.
“The Citizens’ Advice Bureau would never cold-call a client in such a manner looking for this information and neither would any other agency, including your bank.
“This is the first time I have heard of anyone using the CAB’s name in this manner and it is extremely concerning.
“We have worked hard over 70 years to build up our reputation as a trusted agency that can be relied upon to keep all information confidential.
“I would hate to see this scam adversely affect that.”
She said she was urging all Dundee residents to “be wary” of anyone claiming to represent the CAB in an unsolicited phone call.
“If there is one person perpetrating this then the way scams develop suggests that there will be many others,” she said.
“Please don’t be caught out by these people.
“We would never contact anyone in this fashion.”