Watch out for this council tax scam

by Rachel Wait on 04 February 2011  |  20 comments
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A new scam is doing the rounds. Here’s what you need to know.

If I had a penny for every time I heard the word scam, I’d have earned a fortune by now. Indeed, the number of scams doing the rounds seems to be getting higher and higher by the day.

About a year ago, fraudsters were caught sending out thousands of tax refund ‘phishing’ emails following the 31 January tax deadline. The email asked receivers to enter their credit card or bank details into an online form so that the rebate could be paid out.

But anyone who did so would find their account emptied, their credit card used to the limit, and in some cases, they even became a victim of identity fraud.

Now, a year on, and a similar scam is doing the rounds – this time regarding council tax.

How the scam works

The scam is operated by both email and telephone. Fraudsters contact you to say you're due a financial reward as a thank you for paying your council tax by direct debit.

The emails and calls claim to be from the ’Council Tax Head Office in London’ and say you can earn a refund of hundreds of pounds if you provide your personal details, including your bank account details. There is, of course, no such thing as the Council Tax Head Office in London.

The scammers may also provide you with a phone number for you to call should you require more information. However, the numbers provided are thought to be connected to premium rate lines, meaning if you phone one, you could be charged at an extortionate rate.

What’s more, if you then hand over your bank details – either by phone or in response to an email - the fraudsters will be able to access your bank account and the next time you check it, it's likely to be looking considerably less healthy.

Related how-to guide

Avoid scams and rip-offs

Worried about getting caught out by a scam or rip-off? Find out how to protect yourself.

See the guide

What you can do

Several local councils, including Enfield and Lewisham in London, Aberdeen, Brighton and Hove, and the Wirral, have warned about the scam on their websites. So if you do have concerns, have a look on your local council’s website to see if there are any further details.

It’s worth remembering that your local council won’t cold call, text or email you in this way, asking for bank details. If you are due any type of refund, your local council will contact you through the post explaining the situation.

So if you do receive a phone call to say you’re due a financial reward on your council tax, hang up immediately – you may find they call back, but simply don’t answer. And if you receive an email, don’t click on any links in the email, don’t press reply, and don’t phone any numbers you’ve been given. And most importantly, don’t hand over any personal details or bank account numbers.  

If you are unsure about the validity of a call or email about council tax (or any other council service), get in touch with your local council. You’ll be able to find the phone number of your local council on their website.

You can also seek advice from Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or check out the website. 

Stay safe

These days, scams can be for just about anything. And the vast majority of us will have received a phishing email at some point in our lives.

Many of you can probably spot a phishing scam a mile off. But if you’re concerned you won’t be able to spot one, here are a few tips:

The easiest way to spot a phishing scam is by looking at the spelling. Phishing emails are usually full of bad spelling and grammar. Not only that, but they tend to use generic greetings such as ‘Dear customer’ and ‘Best regards’. So if you spot any of these trademarks, alarm bells should start to ring.

There may also be a sense of urgency to the email and of course, it’s likely to ask you for personal details and bank account numbers – usually suggesting you need to respond immediately.

It’s also a good idea to check any company names used in the email. Scammers often use a company name that looks similar to the real deal and if you’ve only looked at it quickly, you’re unlikely to notice. For even more tips read Eight ways to spot a phishing scam.

If you’re after some more general tips on how to stay safe online, check out our articles 12 tips to keep you safe online and 14 ways to protect your privacy. You can also take a look at the Get Safe Online.

Finally, if you're concerned about telephone scams, it's worth registering with the Telephone Preference Service to request that unsolicited phone calls be stopped, although some scammers may find a way to call you regardless. This service is free.

More: How to slash your council tax bill | The five most common scams