Dear LPG,

I know that LPG is all about stories and experiences and I had one yesterday that I think my fellow readers should know about.

I am a pensioner with a mobile phone and a bit of internet know-how, so on March 21^st I got onto the computer to deal with my census form.  It did not take long and I thought, when I was finished, I was finished for the decade. 

According to my children I am a typical pensioner, because I don’t really do much else than make calls with my mobile phone even though I do know a bit more about what it else can do.  Yesterday I noticed a text that was nearly three months old, but it worried me as you can see. It warned that I could be fined for not filling in my census form.

“Scammers are continuing to tell people that their Census submission either hasn’t been received or that information is missing, and because of this you risk being fined £1,000.”

The idea of having to pay that much money for not having completed the census form correctly really caught my attention albeit a month or two after the event, but I did not click the link.  Instead I found the census contact centre helpline telephone number and called them.

They told me that they were aware of these texts and they are also getting messages from people who are receiving similar emails.  They are part of a scam campaign and we need to ignore them.  The worst thing you can do is follow the links provided in any message you are sent on the subject.

They assured me that if there was a query they only ever make contact by post and there would have to be a whole process which would have you in court before any fines are imposed.  While you can be fined for refusing to complete the form, forgetting or making a mistake is not illegal.

So, can I remind readers that the worst thing you can do if you receive one of these texts or emails is to click on the link.  Phone the census contact centre helpline on 0800 141 2021 instead. 

CY, Penge

CY shares a little online information….

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