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Find details below of the latest scams and fraud alerts that have been reported to us. If you become aware of a scam that is not listed here, contact us on 01329 236100.
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.
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.
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 
.
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.
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 , Trading Standards or trees@fareham.gov.uk.
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 .
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 
(127 KB).
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 .
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 .
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.
The Council has seen a spike in the number of scam QR codes being posted on pay and display machines. To help residents stay one step ahead of fraudsters, please see examples of scam QR codes being posted around Fareham:
If you are unsure of the QR code or its validity, please use the app instead.
If you have received a suspicious email:
If you have received a suspicious text:
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:
If you think you have personally been a victim of fraud then this should be reported to Action Fraud .
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 .
If the fraud involves a company operating in our local area then please contact:
Hampshire County Council Trading Standards 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.
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