Warning over school absence fraud

8:51am Friday 8th February 2013 in News

PARENTS are being warned of a scam around unauthorised absences at schools.

The Counter Fraud Team at Essex County Council were alerted yesterday after a parent received a phone call purporting to be from the Education Welfare Service.

The caller said their child had not attended school and as a result they had to pay a fine of £340. The parent was asked to provide her credit card details so a payment could be made over the phone.

Parents are advised the Education Welfare Service do not phone demanding immediate payment. Invoices and penalty notices are sent via the post and parents are then given the option to pay by phone.

  • Any parent who receives such calls should inform their school and Trading Standards on 0845 404 0506.

Comments(2)

wellnow says...
10:50am Sat 9 Feb 13

With a little bit of work the authorities could find the perpetrator. When you think back to the hacking scandle anything is possible it seems.

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Say It As It Is OK? says...
6:40pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Think I will ring my grand daughters school and get them to pay out for not being bothered to open the school the other week just because there was some mild inclement weather!

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