Residents are advised to be on their guard after a number of reports of fraudsters contacting Suffolk residents by phone, text or email about their council tax.
One Ipswich resident has reported receiving an email from ‘Online Council TAX UK’ which claimed they were owed a refund, and requesting they provide their bank details via an online form.
The email quotes a ‘council.tax.gov.uk’ email address. This is not a legitimate Government email address. Suffolk Trading Standards has confirmed that fraudsters have been calling people pretending to be from councils and asking them to complete a survey. Again, the callers have no connection with any local councils.
People are advised not to engage with callers and not to give out any personal details, including bank details, if they receive unsolicited telephone calls, emails or texts.
If anyone believes they have been targeted by a scam, or know someone who has, they should call Trading Standards on 03454 040506.
Alternatively, they can contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or report it online through www.actionfraud.police.uk - Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and internet crime.
