Council Tax Scammers alert

Updated
Council tax bills increase
Council tax bills increase



Council taxpayers have been warned to be on their guard against a new scam, which claims to be offering a council tax rebate, and is actually designed to steal your cash. The warning came after Liverpool Council revealed criminals were targeting victims in the city.

It said that scammers have been sending text messages to residents, claiming they are entitled to a council tax refund, and persuading them to visit a website. The website then asked for personal details - including bank account information. There's a risk that any information input into the site could be used to empty your account.

The council issued a statement clarifying: "The city council never asks for taxpayers' bank or card details by text or email. If you receive a message of this type you should ignore it and, above all, never forward on your details. If you have given your details you are advised to contact your bank immediately."
%VIRTUAL-ArticleSidebar-scams-guide%
You could be targeted

This particular website has now been taken down, but the threat is far from over, because this is the latest in a long line of similar scams - which continue to target people around the country.

The scammers often get in touch by phone, text or email, informing taxpayers they are due a rebate. The emails often say that people have been in the wrong Council Tax bracket for years, so are due refunds of thousands of pounds.

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau said it has seen a number of cases since the summer of a variation on this scam. In this version, scammers will phone, and claim that in order to process the refund, you need to send an 'administration fee'. The victim is put under tremendous pressure by the caller to pay immediately, but once the 'fee' is sent, they never hear from the scammers again.

Action Fraud says Councils will never contact you by email, phone or text offering a refund. They won't ask for bank, credit card details or passwords, and they won't ask you to pay a fee in order to process anything.

If you are contacted about your council tax, it's worth calling your council on a different phone - on a number you have sourced independently, and asking whether there have been any changes.

Tax Hacks: Beware the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams
Tax Hacks: Beware the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams



Advertisement