Businesses in the town are being alerted to a new scam that has been attempted in Watford...
Licensing officers from Watford Borough Council are urging premises with alcohol licences to be aware of fraudsters posing as council officials.
The scam involves individuals claiming that your Premises Alcohol Licensing is running out or expiring – this is false, as alcohol licences do not expire or run out. Any fees due will be handled by the council through the usual process. Do not pay or provide your financial details over the phone for licence fees in this way.
These fraudsters can seem very convincing, sometimes having accurate information such as the fee amount or the names of real council staff.
Any legitimate requests for payment will be made in writing and should only be paid through official channels, such as BACS or directly to the council.
If you're ever in doubt about someone claiming to be from the council, contact Watford Borough Council directly to verify their identity.
If you believe you’ve been targeted by this scam or have any relevant information, please report the incident to the licensing team at Watford Borough Council, Hertfordshire Police on 101, and Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
