As you know, we like to use our blog platform to highlight any scams that might be ‘in vogue’ at the moment.

This week, we received a news alert from the Action Fraud website, informing ourselves of a very ‘high alert e-mail scam’ currently circulating. Its intention is to dupe unsuspecting people into downloading malware onto their computer.

Here is the full scam alert in full…

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We are aware that an email entitled ‘Population Census: a message to everyone – act now‘ is being circulated, allegedly in the name of National Statistician, Jil Matheson. This email demands individuals provide further personal information, supposedly for the Census and threatens fines for non-compliance.

This email is a scam and a hoax. It has no connection whatsoever with the National Statistician, the 2011 Census or the Office for National Statistics.

We believe the links in the email could download malware to any computer where the user clicks on the links. This could put your personal data, including financial information, at risk.

Anyone receiving this, or similar emails, should delete them, not open any links and certainly not provide any information.

For more information on how to protect yourself from this type of threat, please see www.getsafeonline.org

If you wish to, please report receipt of any such suspicious emails to www.actionfraud.org.uk

ONS takes the protection of personal census information extremely seriously. Collection of census data was completed last year and no further requests will be forthcoming from the Office for National Statistics relating to the 2011 Census.

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Please spread the message about this scam to everyone you know…

You must be on your guard against bogus officials offering to give council refunds, relating to council tax.

People are being called and told they may qualify for a refund and then asked for their bank account details so the payment can be made. In some cases residents have also been asked for a £90 admin fee to process their application.

Whilst this con may not yet have arrived in your area, it is worth everyone being vigilant and not giving out any sensitive information to unknown callers, either on the phone or in person. If you receive any such approach, contact the Police and inform them..

If you are due for any kind of refund, you will be informed in writing by your Local Authority and no ‘admin’ fee will be payable!