UK city struck with ‘worst illness and abdomen ache’ outbreak hit by scammers
South West Water has sounded the alarm over con artists trying to swindle residents hit by the cryptosporidium crisis in South Devon.
The company has been alerted to bogus callers posing as water company reps, who are after customers’ compensation claims and direct debit info. The alert comes hot on the heels of the discovery of cryptosporidium, a bug that can cause illness, in Brixham’s water supply earlier this week, prompting a boil water notice.
Residents have been warned not to drink unboiled tap water due to the contamination. In response to the inconvenience, South West Water announced it would dish out £115 to each household affected.
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But now, the firm has been informed of scammers targeting locals with fake calls linked to the outbreak. SWW has made it crystal clear that customers don’t need to lift a finger to get their compensation, and there’s no need for the company to contact them about it.
(Image: Getty Images)
“For all household customers who have been issued with the Boil Water Notice you will receive your compensation by way of an automatic payment,” the company declared on social media. They’re urging anyone who gets a dodgy call to keep their bank details to themselves and to report the incident to Action Fraud, reports Devon Live.
SWW have issued a warning: “We have been made aware of scam calls to customers, claiming to be from South West Water, in relation to your direct debit details and a compensation claim. It is important to reiterate that we do not need to contact you and you do not need to do anything.
“For all household customers who have been issued with the Boil Water Notice you will receive your compensation by way of an automatic payment. For business customers, this payment will be made via your Retailer.
“Where we hold direct debit details this will be made as an immediate payment, where we do not this will be added as a credit to the next available bill.”
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The UKHSA’s latest data reveals confirmed cases of cryptosporidium surged to 46 since Wednesday, May 15, from just 22. On top of that, around 100 others are reported to be showing similar symptoms and the number of cases is expected to rise even more.
The areas affected by the infected water supply has expanded to include locations such as Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and North West Paignton. With SWW issuing a boil water notice to roughly 16,000 homes and businesses in these areas, locals are being urged to rigorously boil any water meant for drinking, cooking, preparing food or brushing teeth, before letting it completely cool down prior to use.
Cryptosporidiosis is primarily a waterborne disease, with infections often resulting from consuming contaminated water or accidentally swallowing it in swimming pools or streams. It can also be contracted through contact with animals or humans.
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