Hoaxer targets blind woman

A HEARTLESS hoaxer tried to con a blind pensioner out of almost £200 by claiming to be from her gas provider.

The 85-year-old Greenacres resident received a phone call from a man claiming to be from E.ON, who aggressively demanded £198 to cover a gas and electricity bill he claimed she hadn’t paid and asked for her credit card details.

But the pensioner, who is registered blind and looked after by carers and family, wasn’t duped by the conman. She was baffled at the call, for her number is ex-directory, her provider is E.ON and the amount demanded almost the exact figure of her combined gas and electricity bill.

Her daughter, Mary Slicker, said: “She was upset by the whole thing, she told him she could not pay and he slammed the phone down.

“It’s frightening where they get this information from and the fact that some people would fall for such a trick.”

Warnings are now going out for vigilance over such calls. A spokesman from E.ON said the company has caller ID, meaning if customers dial 1471 immediately after the call ends they will be told they have been contacted by EON.

She added: “We would not ask for payment over the phone. If customers are concerned, we would recommend that they end the call immediately.”