Residents Warned of Council Tax Refund Scam

A Ribble Valley householder contact ed Ribble Valley Borough Council after being targeted by a caller pretending to be a council officer.

The caller claimed the resident's property had been mistakenly rated as Band F, instead of Band D, for council tax and offered them a refund of thousands of pounds over the phone.

Ribble Valley Borough Council's revenues and benefits manager, Mark Edmondson, said: "This is a sophisticated scam, where conmen and women contact householders claiming to be council officers and offer council tax refunds by phone.

"Residents are advised that the council does not offer council tax refunds by telephone and if in doubt to contact us without delay."

A spokesman for the Trading Standards Service said Ribble Valley was one of several areas in Lancashire being targeted by scams callers offering refunds for council tax, income tax and bank charges.

The spokesman said: "Residents are strongly advised never to give personal bank details in response to an unsolicited phone call or mailing."

If you receive suspicious calls from people claiming to be council officers, contact Ribble Valley Borough Council on 01200 425111 for verification.

The Trading Standards Service's consumer direct line is 08454 040506.

Ends.

Ref: PR710.

Date: January 28 2010.