Businesses with alcohol licences in Sandwell are being warned about a new scam.
Sandwell Council is asking all Premises Licence Holders to be alert to fraudsters calling them and claiming to be a licensing officer asking for payment of their annual fee.
A recent incident involved a man calling a Sandwell business owner, asking for an immediate payment of a licensing fee via bank account over the phone. The call was a scam.
Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community Councillor Suzanne Hartwell said: “Luckily the gentleman who received the scam phone call was suspicious, and he got in touch with our licensing team to check if it was a genuine call, which it wasn’t.
“I would urge all licensed premises owners to be cautious.
“The licensing team do send reminder letters to Premises Licence Holders and licensed premises reminding them the annual fee is due.
“The team also sometimes call premises to remind them these fees are due, but they do not ask for bank account details. The team send online payment links from a sandwell.gov.uk email address.”
If any Premises Licence Holders receive a phone call asking for a payment, they can check it is a genuine call by emailing the team at licensing_team@sandwell.gov.uk