A scammer has reportedly been doing the rounds in Croydon, trying to con people with learning disabilities out of upwards of £1,000.

The scam involves a bogus email sent by a fraudster using the name of a genuine Croydon Council employee from the adults commissioning team to ask for payment from people with learning disabilities and their carers.

One such email read: “Good day. This is a friendly reminder to let you know that your invoice is 3 days past due. Please pay this immediately or if you have any questions, please contact us to discuss. Total amount due: £1183.10.”

The fraudster then includes a web link to view and pay the invoice, signing off using a council email address format of firstname.lastname@croydon.gov.uk

Six Croydon people with learning disabilities, their carers and connected professionals have alerted the council to the scam without paying the fraudster. The council’s adults commissioning team has already contacted approximately 100 people who use their service, including adults with learning disabilities, their carers and connected professionals, to warn them about the scam. The council is also flagging the fraud to another 200 individuals and local organisations in Croydon.

"All scammers are sickening in the way they try to exploit people’s trust for money, and we’re warning people to be especially on their guard because this scammer is posing as a genuine council employee," Councillor Hamida Ali said.

“If you have any doubts, even if the name used on the email looks genuine, don’t open it, don’t pay the money asked for, and report it to us."