Worthing woman's phone rage

The woman, who asked not to be named, received a call last from a man claiming to be from a gas bill collection agency.

He told her the direct debit to pay her bill had failed and he needed her payment details over the phone.

The woman told him to call back in half an hour, in which time she called her supplier, EDF Energy, who told her the caller was a hoax.

Concern for elderly

When he called back later, the woman gave him a mouthful of abuse before hanging up.

"It's a bit of a cheek, actually," said the woman. "It quite alarmed me. I believed it at first.

"I live with elderly people in sheltered housing. I thought if it happened to them it could really scare them.

"I'm ex-directory so I don't know how they got my number."

EDF and police advice

An EDF Energy spokesman said any unexpected calls should be checked out with the company's customer service department on 0800 096 9000.

She said the man spoke "very quickly", with no discernible accent.

Anyone who receives suspicious calls should call police on 0845 60 70 999 and never give out bank details over the phone.

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