Wirral warning over council tax conmen



Fraudsters are attempting to con people into revealing their bank details with a council tax scam, the local authority has warned.

They are contacting Wirral people by phone and email claiming to be from the council tax head office in London and offering refunds of overpaid council tax -sometimes amounting to several hundred pounds.

During the conversation, the callers request personal information including bank account details so that the refund can be paid.

Council leader Cllr Jeff Green said people should not be taken in by the deception.

He said the calls had no connection with Wirral Council and no-one should give oput personal details over the phone.

Ccllr Green said: "I would urge residents not to give out any personal information when they receive these calls or to pay any money upfront.

"The council would never cold call or request bank details over the phone.

"The calls have no connection to the council. If residents want to enquire about their band, they can do so for free by contacting the valuation office.

"Residents should also be aware that neither the council nor the valuation office, who are responsible for council tax bandings, has any legal power to pay interest on refunds given for reductions in the band of a property.”

Anyone with queries regarding council tax should call 0151 606 2002. And anyone with a query relating to a tax banding should call the valuation office on 0151 802 1000.

THE GLOBE