Council tax scammers operating in Sedgemoor (From This is The West Country)

Council tax scammers operating in Sedgemoor

10:00am Monday 4th March 2013 in Somerset By Matthew Colledge

SCAMMERS are targeting homes across Sedgemoor - claiming they can knock down your council tax bill if you hand over your bank details.

Police and Sedgemoor District Council have received a number of complaints about the scam from people in Bridgwater and Burnham, and are urging households to be on guard.

Police say people have been receiving unwanted phone calls and visits from cold callers, who claim they are operating a scheme on behalf of the Government and Sedgemoor District Council, and that for a one-off fee they can reassess housing bands which could result in homeowners qualifying for lower council tax.

Sgt Ian Kennett, of Burnham police, said: “The council do not recognise the claims made by these callers and we believe them to be a scam.

“People should not be calling door-to-door in no-cold calling zones and we would urge people to report this behaviour to us on 101.

“Unfortunately people use this type of activity to target the vulnerable people in our communities and we will take all reports we receive very seriously.”

A Sedgemoor District Council spokesman said: “Other councils have reported someone phoning claiming to be from a Government department and offering a year's council tax refund as a reward for prompt payment over the past number of years.

“The resident was suspicious, and when the caller was asked to identify herself and the department she represented, the caller hung up.

“This type of scam is similar to a number of bogus telephone calls occurring in growing numbers across the country, the nature of which is to deceive the recipient into revealing personal bank details by promising a refund of council tax to be paid into their account.

“If a customer has recently received a phone call and been asked for their bank details they should phone the council to check the validity.

“If, at any time, a customer has any doubt about the identity of a person telephoning and claiming to work for Sedgemoor they should request a name and extension number and ring Sedgemoor Direct on 0845 4082540 to confirm the caller's identity before giving any personal bank details.”