RESIDENTS in Studley and Alcester are being warned of potential fraud after receiving phone calls or texts about a council tax rebate from people claiming to work for Stratford District Council.
The text often contains phishing links, which direct the recipient to a website where they will be asked to provide personal data.
Cold callers claim to be from the District Council and try to gain bank details by saying residents are due a council tax refund as their account is showing a credit.
The District Council says it would never telephone, email or message to ask for a payment to release a Council Tax overpayment.
Officers say if you do receive an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from the District Council, do not divulge bank or credit card details – first obtain the caller’s name, then ring the District Council back on its main switchboard number – 01789 267575 – and ask to be put through to the caller to confirm it is a genuine request.
Never:
– Give your bank details to anyone.
-Let anyone into your home without seeing appropriate identification.
-Feel under pressure from a cold-caller to pay an immediate up-front fee.
-Accept cold callers’ claims about your council tax without seeing evidence or proof of what they are claiming.
Deal with anyone that is reluctant to give you their company address or contact details.
Councillor Maurice Howse, business, tourism and ICT portfolio, says: “Fraudsters are relentless and will work tirelessly to find new ways to convince people to part with their money.
“The District Council would never request money from customers to help process any council tax refund.
“Never take up offers of a tax rebate on the spot from cold calls or give out bank details.”
If you think you have been the victim of a scam, call the police straight away or report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
If you think your council tax account is in credit and/or you are due a refund call 01789 260990.
