Premises licence holders are being alerted to a new scam that has been attempted in some local authority areas.
Medway Council is urging businesses with premises licences to be aware of fraudsters posing as council officials.
The scam starts with a call or text message claiming that your premises licence is running out or expiring, or that you have outstanding fees. Premises licences do not expire or run out.
The fraudster asks traders to pay outstanding fees or renewal fees into a personal account.
These fraudsters can seem very convincing, sometimes having accurate information such as the fee amount or the names of real council staff.
Any fees due will be handled by the council through the usual process, and licence holders are never asked to pay or provide financial details over the phone for licence fees.
Any legitimate requests for payment will be made in writing with a copy of the outstanding invoice(s) enclosed with details of how payment should be made.
If you're ever in doubt about someone claiming to be from the council, contact the council directly to verify their identity.
Scammers are becoming increasingly aware of how to scam people so it’s important to stay up to date with what’s going on by checking with Action Fraud.
If you think you may have been the victim of a scam, you should report this to Action Fraud via their website or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Medway Council’s Licensing Service is a shared service with Gravesham Borough Council, and the Licensing Department can be contacted by email at licensing@gravesham.gov.uk.