Reward to help catch top-up conmen (From Echo)

Reward to help catch top-up conmen

8:30am Friday 18th March 2011 in Southend By Ryan McCarthy

REWARDS of up to £10,000 are being offered to residents who successfully report electric-meter fraudsters targeting Southend.

Those behind the scam are selling fake electricity cards to unsuspecting residents with prepaid electricity meters.

Since last July there have been more than 1,250 incidents reported across the borough.

Energy UK has now teamed up with Crimestoppers to offer the substantial reward to anyone with information about those behind the crime.

Tony Cox, Southend councillor responsible for public protection, said: “People who get a call from anyone who is not their energy supplier and can’t produce the correct identity, should just shut the door on them.

“I urge people to work with the police to try and help catch the perpetrators.

“Anyone who has had a prepay meter for some time should stick with getting the top up from the legitimate sources and be extra careful, otherwise they may become victims of this nasty crime.”

Gangs are knocking on doors and claiming to sell “discounted top-up cards”.

The cards have electricity on them, but because the payment goes into the con artist’s pocket, the electricity firms charge the resident when they realise the electricity has not been paid for.

The data about the illegal energy top-ups has come from power suppliers.

Dave Courding, from Crimestoppers, said: “Anyone approached with an energy meter top-up at their doorstep should not get involved.

“We are offering a reward of up to £10,000 to anyone who can supply us with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in this crime.”

Energy companies never sell electricity top-ups on the doorstep and customers can only buy top-ups from official outlets including: PayPoint, Payzone or the Post Office. Anyone with information about criminals selling illegal top-ups can call 0800 555111.