Warning over fraudsters posing as Council rate collectors

 Two individuals posing as Galway County Council rates collectors have extracted hundreds of euro from a number of North East Galway businesses, threatening jail on them if they don’t pay up.

 Businesses in Caltra and Mountbellew have been targeted by the fraudsters who carry identity badges, clipboards and wear high-viz jackets.

Gardai have now issued a warning to businesses in the area to be on the alert to the criminals who have Eastern European accents.

Investigating officers believe that if they successfully extracted money from a number of businesses, the fraudsters will strike again very soon.

The male and female posing as Council rates collectors targeted Chinese restaurants in both Caltra and Mountbellew, according to Garda sources.

They entered the premises and demanded sums of money stating that they had come to collect commercial rates.

In one of the cases they were handed a sum of money which actually exceeded the rates bill that was owed by the particular premises.

The culprits threatened the owners that they could face the prospect of going to jail if they did not pay up.

Both individuals were well dressed and wearing high visibility jackets.  They were carrying clipboards and were wearing identity badges around their necks. Both individuals were in their 20s.

Anyone with information can contact Mountbellew Garda Station 09096-79292.

Read more in today’s Connacht Tribune