Fraudsters have been targeting council tenants, masquerading as local authority employees and conducting surveys about property maintenance issues.
These individuals have been approaching tenants directly at their homes, displaying fake identification badges that appear authentic.
The scammers' scheme involves enquiring about outstanding maintenance work before proposing legal action against the council on a contingency fee basis.
Multiple housing estates have experienced this deceptive activity, with perpetrators systematically canvassing residential areas to identify potential victims.
Brighton & Hove City Council has confirmed that genuine housing department staff and approved contractors never conduct unscheduled visits to properties.
All legitimate council representatives arrange appointments in advance before calling at residents' homes.
Housing management panel meetings have become forums where tenant advocates are raising alarms about this widespread fraud.
Representatives from Craven Vale, Hangleton and Knoll, and Kemptown estates have all shared accounts of residents being approached by the alleged imposters.
The fraudsters were calling residents in Brighton & Hove
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The Local Democracy Reporting Service has documented how fraudsters tour council properties, enquiring about maintenance issues and subsequently proposing legal proceedings against the local authority.
Some residents have already been persuaded to pursue legal action.
The fraudsters' tactics involve presenting themselves as conducting official surveys, creating an air of legitimacy that has deceived numerous tenants across different neighbourhoods in Brighton & Hove.
The local authority has established a dedicated webpage to alert residents about claims management firms that initiate legal proceedings regarding maintenance issues.
The fraudsters were showing fake identification badges
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Officials have cautioned that pursuing litigation through these companies results in repair work being suspended whilst cases are processed.
"Please use our complaints process before considering legal action. We're committed to providing safe, high-quality homes," the council stated.
"We know our repairs service doesn't always meet expectations and improving it is a top priority."
Mikila Beck, the council's interim head of repairs, encouraged residents to verify any caller's credentials, added: "If you're a council member of staff and a tenant is concerned and wants to contact the council to check that they are representing the council, that's fine. We encourage that."
Patricia Weller, representing Hangleton and Knoll tenants, also revealed that residents had contacted her after receiving suspicious telephone calls from individuals claiming council affiliation who enquired about maintenance problems.
"I have advised them to ignore it because how do they know in the first place that these people have had a problem with the council, getting work done? Or are they just fishing?" she said.
Emma Salcombe, tenant representative for Essex Place in Kemptown, later reported that a contingency fee firm had been actively seeking potential claimants on her estate.
She noted that the individuals wore counterfeit identification, which they "removed rather quickly" when challenged about their legitimacy.