CIVIC chiefs in the New Forest have warned residents to beware after a bogus official tried to con a "vulnerable" householder out of £7,000.

A smooth-talking fraudster claiming to work for the district council targeted a 53-year-old man who receives visits from a carer.

The caller claimed the householder owed the council £7,000 in "business tax" because he sold flowers at his gate.

Steve Cranston, the authority's audit manager, said the con man eventually agreed to accept a part-payment of £3,000.

He said: "The householder was persuaded to hand over his cash card and pin number, supposedly to enable the council to remove the money from his bank.

"About £300 was taken from his account, but his carer raised the alarm the next day and the card was stopped.

"The bogus official was a smooth operator who had done a bit of homework.

"He said his victim could ring the council if he wished to check up on him and gave out the correct telephone number."

Now the authority is warning other householders in the Forest to be on their guard.

Goff Beck, the council's Cabinet member for crime and disorder, said: "This is an alarming example of the unscrupulous and devious ways in which con men try to trick the public into handing over money and personal details.

"Council officials rarely visit householders at night and would never demand money on the doorstep in that way.

"Identification should always be asked for at all times and genuine council employees are always happy to wait while the identification is checked.

"We're very sorry for the distress caused to the man in question and hope that all members of the public will continue to be vigilant.

"It's important to remember that personal details and financial information should never be given out to anyone without the proper authorisation and identification."