Alert over council tax conman call
Tessa Watkins • Published 5 Jan 2011 09:30
Share this
See also:
A TELEPHONE trickster who tries to get his victim's bank account details by telling them they are due a council tax refund is at work in Reading.
At least one man has reported the con after realising what was happening and cutting the caller off but it is not known whether the crook has been more successful on other occasions.
The would be victim told Reading Borough Council's Call Centre team the caller informed him he was entitled to a seven-year rebate on overpaid council tax. The caller then asked him to confirm the name of his bank, the expiry date on his bank card and the first four digits on the card.
The man smelled a rat and ended the call immediately.
The council is urging people to get in touch with reports of any similar incidents. Council tax manager Kirsty Anderson said: "Fortunately in this incident the resident did not pass on any personal information. We would urge anyone who receives a call like this to remember Reading Borough Council would never call customers to ask them to confirm card details over the phone."
She assures residents that if they are due a council tax refund, they will receive it automatically in their accounts if they pay by Direct Debit, or they will receive a credit bill. Refunds are usually paid by BACS or cheque, and are only paid into a bank account if payments have previously been made by Direct Debit, as the council already has the information it needs.
For more information contact the council tax team on 0118 937 3727.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 05 Jan 11
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
