GARDAÍ HAVE warned people to be vigilant following reports that fraudsters have been calling door to door posing as council officials and seeking €100 for the household charge.
Gardaí in the midlands believe fraudsters called to homes in Mountmellick and Stradbally in Co Laois on Monday and yesterday seeking the payments, despite local authorities not engaging in such collection methods.
Laois County Council stressed there were no council staff collecting money for the household charge. It warned the public to be vigilant and urged people to check on elderly neighbours.
There are similar reports of callers seeking the €100 payment on doorsteps in Co Meath, although these have not been substantiated.
The Department of the Environment said no local authority official would be visiting households before March 31st, nor would they be collecting money in this fashion at any stage. Local authority officials would always carry identification, the department added.
A Garda spokesman said people should be aware of the reports and seek identification from callers claiming to be acting in an official capacity for a local authority or other agency.
“If they have any concerns at all about the people they are dealing with, they should call the local gardaí,” the spokesman said.
Garda sources said that, while reports of such attempted fraud might be few and far between at present, people needed to be extra vigilant as the deadline for the paying the charge passed this weekend.