Council warns public over false Council Survey Contractors

Invercargill people are being warned by the Council to keep their door closed to individuals posing as Council survey contractors, after reports of elderly being targeted by scammers. Council received a call this morning by a concerned member of the public, advising she had been approached by a man posing as a survey contractor on behalf of the Council. The caller offered to provide identification, and provided Council pamphlets. He was described as overly friendly, and when asked to leave, said he would return later at a time more suitable to conduct the survey.

The Council wants to stress its current survey is undertaken by phone, there are no door-to-door enquiries. Police have been notified, and Council advises members of the public who have been approached to contact either Police or Council. The survey is conducted on levels of service and satisfaction, based on regulatory and community service activities. The Council survey process began last Monday and finishes Friday, July 25. The survey was contracted out to a private research company.