Local pubs and restaurants are being urged to stay vigilant after reports of fraudsters posing as council licensing officers and demanding payment for unpaid licence fees.

Scammers are contacting business owners by phone, falsely claiming that unpaid or overdue licensing fees must be paid immediately. In some cases, callers have even provided false officer names, licensing numbers and mobile contact details to appear more convincing.

One recent incident involved demands for £250 in “overdue” fees, with repeated calls requesting sensitive financial information.

Please be aware:

• The Council will never request payment or bank details over the phone.
• Licensing fee reminders are always issued in writing, with full details of how to pay through official channels.
• Genuine calls from licensing officers may occur if there is an administrative query (for example, an address change), but officers will not ask for direct payment.

If you receive any unsolicited calls, hang up and contact us directly online or via phone on 0300 131 2 131.

All News