Ken's road charge leads to call scam

POLICE are warning people to be on their guard against a telephone caller who claims to be calling about London's congestion charge.

It is thought the caller has been trying to obtain credit card details in what police are describing as a scam.

Police were alerted after a retired Epping woman answered her telephone at 10.30pm on Saturday, March 29.

A "well spoken" woman told her that if she paid her congestion charge there and then she would not incur a penalty fine.

However the woman, who does not own a car, became suspicious.

Epping-based crime reduction officer Tony Ellis, who is urging people not to be taken in by such callers, said: "She started to ask where she could get more details but the woman said she had only just started working for

the company and did not have those details. She then put the phone down.

"The woman is in no doubt she was going to be asked for her credit card details."

Mr Ellis added: "I have contacted Transport for London which said it did not make this type of call to recover its charges.

"I have suggested that it puts that information on future literature to lessen the chance of people falling victim to this scam."

12:17 Saturday 26th April 2003

Printer Friendly Format

Send This Page To A Friend

• Life in the Rich List
• Ex-PC cautioned followed theft probe
• Business as usual on Epping Forest District Council