Council tax scam warning

A council tax scam which sees householders told they can claim a refund has reached Shetland.

The SIC’s Trading Standards team leader, David Marsh, warned residents that the scam, which started in England last year, sounds genuine.

He said: “People receive a phone call claiming that their home is in the wrong council tax band, and that the caller can help them to claim a refund.

“The caller will sound convincing, and will ask for your bank card details so that they can send out a pack which they will have you believe is essential for correcting your council tax band (and thereby claiming a refund which they claim could be worth thousands of pounds).”

Trading Standards advice is never to give your bank card details to anyone who calls you.

If you think you have been a victim of fraud, hang up the phone and wait five minutes to clear the line – as fraudsters sometimes keep the line open. Make a call to a friend to make sure that the fraudster is not still on the line, then call your bank or card issuer to report the fraud.