CHESHIRE West and Chester Council has issued a warning about hoax callers targeting residents and claiming to work for the council – just weeks after neighbouring Cheshire East Council issued the same warning.

CWaC said it had been contacted by residents who received a ‘number withheld’ calls from people claiming to be from the former Cheshire County Council.

The hoax callers say they are undertaking a benefits survey for the council and know the resident’s full name.

When one person asked the caller if they were from Cheshire West and Chester Council or Cheshire East Council they hung up.

Each year many people fall victim to fraudsters - sometimes operating from overseas - intent on stealing personal and financial information.

If you receive an unsolicited or unexpected telephone call be on your guard as it may be a scam.

Scams take many different forms but a common route which fraudsters use to contact victims is the cold telephone call. The fraudsters sound convincing, professional and may claim to represent a business you know, for example your bank or local authority.

They may pressure you to act quickly, either because they want to trick you into believing you will miss a golden opportunity to make money or that you will suffer some sort of loss.

Never give personal or financial information out to anyone who cold calls you on the telephone. Be cautious and, if in doubt, hang up. In all cases, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Cllr Lynn Riley, executive member for localities, said: “The council does not make unsolicited calls of this nature and would never ask for personal details.

“Anyone who receives such a call should hang up immediately.

“If you are in any doubt about the validity of any caller stating they are from the Council, please call our Customer Services on 0300 123 8 123, to check the details.”

Cllr Mark Henesey, opposition spokesman for Environment and Communities, added: “Please take care when you are ‘cold called’ at home, especially if the person on the other end of the phone claims to work for a Council and asks for your PERSONAL details.

“Be extremely cautious and the advice from Council officers is simply hang up.”

If you have been a victim of a hoax, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.