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Latest scams and fraud alerts

What to do if you think you are a victim of fraud

Charities

Businesses

Council

Housing 

Online Shopping

Parking

Winter

What to do if you receive scam emails or texts

Fraud Alerts

What to do if you think you are a victim of fraud

If you think you have personally been a victim of fraud then this should be reported to Action Fraud External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab.

If the fraud involves use of your credit card, then this should be reported to the card provider/bank in the first instance, who should then report it to Action Fraud External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab.

If the fraud involves a company operating in our local area then please contact:

Hampshire County Council Trading Standards External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab on 01962 833620 or email tsadvice@hants.gov.uk.

If you are approached by someone purporting to be an employee of Fareham Borough Council we can check this out for you. Please contact our fraud hotline on 01329 824667 or email us at corporatefraud@fareham.gov.uk.

Businesses

We've been made aware that some local food businesses have received calls from individuals claiming to be from Fareham Borough Council arranging food hygiene visits.

Please note: The council DOES NOT make appointments for our businesses and therefore these calls have not come from us.

If you're ever unsure about the legitimacy of a contact or visit, please call us on 01329 236100 to check before taking any action.

If you believe you may have been subject to a potential scam call, you can report it to us on the above number, and to the police on 101.

Charities

Cheques for charities

A local authority and a school have been victims of fraudsters intercepting cheques made payable for charity donations. In one example the fraudsters intercepted the cheques, changed the payee details and the amount payable. For more information please refer to the cheque fraud alert PDF (127 KB).

Council

Urgent - Council Tax scam

Please be aware that the Council has been informed of Fareham residents receiving fraudulent text messages and emails (see examples below) informing them that there is no record of receiving Council Tax payment or that they have a balance outstanding.

Please be vigilant to any emails or texts you receive from any individual/organisation pretending to be from the 'Local Taxation Office' and/or 'Council Revenue Services'.

Find out more here.

Council Tax Fraud Alert 

Please be aware that the Council has been informed of Fareham residents receiving fraudulent text messages and emails (see examples below) informing them that there is no record of receiving Council Tax payment or that they have a balance outstanding. Please be vigilant to any emails/texts you recieve from any individual/organisation pretending to be from the 'Local Taxation Office' and/or 'Council Revenue Services'. These messages are fake, so please DO NOT click on the links in the email or the text message.

Find out what to do if you receive a suspicious email or text.

If you are worried about your Council Tax account, please reach out to the Council on 01329 824651.

Senior Council Officer impersonation

Letters are being sent to residents impersonating Senior Council officers. If you are unsure of the authenticity of a letter you have received from the Council, please contact us on 01329 236100.

Officers of the Courts

Fareham residents have been receiving text messages from fraudsters impersonating officers of the Courts, requesting fictitious outstanding payments. If you receive such a text message please report to either the Council on 01329 236100 or Action Fraud External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab.

Housing

Solar Panel Warranty Scam

Please be aware that the Council has been informed of Fareham residents receiving fraudulent text messages informing them that the warranty on their Solar Panels has expired and that to renew the warranty they need to call '02036672847'. Upon calling this number residents have reported that they have been asked to pay large sums of money, in order to renew a fictious warranty (one resident was nearly scammed for £1,500).

If you have recevied such a text message, please DO NOT call the number quoted in the message or reply to the text. Please report the message to either the Council on 01329 236100 or Action Fraud External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab.

Tree surgeons

Bogus tree surgeons are approaching residents for work. If you receive a cold call from a tree surgeon who you suspect to be a fraudster please report it to either the Council on 01329 236100, Action Fraud External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab, Trading Standards External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab or trees@fareham.gov.uk. 

Responsive repairs

Please be aware that the Council has been informed of Fareham residents receiving a phone call with an automated message impersonating the Council's Responsive Repair team stating that their property requires outstanding repairs. Please note that the Council will never cold call residents asking about outstanding repairs. If you receive such a call please report it to either the Council on 01329 236100 or Action Fraud External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab.

Online Shopping

Luxury advent calendars

Consumers are being asked to be aware of fake advertisements for advent calendars on social media. The scam adverts purport to be selling calendars by significant brands at a fraction of the price. Find out more here External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab.  

ParkingCar Parking payment machine with scam QR code sticker

Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Text Scam

Please be aware that the Council has been informed of Fareham residents receiving fraudulent text messages regarding fictious outstanding PCNs from the following phone numbers: +62 83840046249 & +62 85136433972. The fraudulent message reads 'penalty charge notice – record shows unpaid parking ticket'.

Please be advised that the Council would never send a text to customers regarding outstanding PCNs. 

If you have recevied such a message, please DO NOT reply to the text nor click on any of the links included in the message. Please report the message to either the Council on 01329 236100 or Action Fraud External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab.

Parking QR Codes

Please be aware that the Council has been informed of scam QR codes being posted on pay and display machines around the borough. Please see examples of scam QR codes below (these scam QR codes have been removed):

If you are unsure of the QR code or its validity, please use the app instead. 

Find out what to do if you think you have been a victim of fraud.

Parking fines

Fareham residents have been receiving parking ticket scam text messages asking them to pay fictitious fines. If you receive such a text message please report it to either the Council on 01329 236100 or Action Fraud External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab.

Winter

Winter Fuel Payment Text Scam

Please be aware that the Council has been informed by the National Anti Fraud Network (NAFN) External Hyperlink - Opens in new tab, regarding false text messages claiming to be from the DWP about Winter Fuel/Energy allowance payments. The messages have been received from the following numbers: 

An example of the message is noted below:

According to DWP records: You have not yet submitted your application for Winter Heading Allowance 2025-2026. To ensure you receive your £300 payment, please complete your application before 30 July 2025. Failure to submit an application by the deadline will render you ineligible for the stipend. Please take action now and complete your application via the link below: https://govuk.winter-fuel.com/uk (please reply Y, then exit the text message and open it again to activiate the link, or copy the link to your safari browser and open it'. 

The Council is aware that variations of the fraudulent message, featuring alternative dates, are being circulated.

If you have received the above message, please DO NOT click on the link as this will take you a malicious website. Please report the message to either the Council on 01329 236100 or Action Fraud or NAFN. 

Winter Subsidy Benefit Scam

Please be aware that the Council has been notified of a Winter Subsidy Benefit scam email that is making its way around local residents.

The scam email advises residents to apply for a winter subsidy benefit plan via a link in the email, however the link takes residents to a payment screen asking for a £1.00 payment to commence the process.

If you have received a similar email, please do not click on the link and please contact the Council as soon as possible. 

What to do if you receive scam emails or texts

If you have received a suspicious email:

If you have received a suspicious text:

Fraud Alerts

Fareham Borough Council works with organisations that specialize in the prevention and detection of fraud. Any recent alerts of fraud that the Council receives from such organisations which are pertinent to Fareham residents can be found below: