Tax rebate calls 'not genuine'

Date: 11th November 2009

Residents in the Scottish Borders are being cold-called by suspected fraudsters who offer a council tax rebate.

The callers pose as officials from Scottish Borders Council (SBC) and ask their victims to provide them with their card details so that the "refund" can be made, the BBC reported.

It is not local government policy to ask for debit or credit card numbers over the phone in this way.

Several residents are thought to have been contacted by the suspected con artists, with the value of the rebate on offer going up to £3,000.

Speaking to the broadcaster, Paula Clark at SBC's Safer Communities Team, said that householders should never offer cold callers sensitive information in this way.

"If anyone has passed bank or credit card details to anyone recently regarding a refund they should contact their bank branch or card company immediately," she added.

"This is yet another scam where fraudsters will go to any length to get bank information."

Posted by Anthony Burns