Watch Out For Council Tax Banding Scam

Bridgend County Borough residents are being warned to look out for a scam which claims they can get their council tax band reduced if they pay a fee. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Several local residents have contacted Bridgend County Borough Council after they received telephone calls from scammers, claiming to be from the ‘Ministry of Justice’, who say that it will be possible to re-band their property in return for an upfront payment of £65. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The hoaxers go on to ask for confidential bank account details and householders who fall victim to the scam subsequently find that their bank accounts have been raided. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Hywel Williams, the council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “Bridgend County Borough Council will never phone you out of the blue to ask for your bank account details over the telephone. This is similar to other council tax scams that have also done the rounds in previous years and we’re urging residents not to provide any bank details to these fraudsters. From the reports we have received so far, it seems as though these latest scammers are targeting older members of the community in particular, so please be vigilant.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Residents who may have already given their account details over the phone are advised to contact their banks as soon as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you believe you’ve received a similar call, please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 (for a service in the Welsh language call 03454 040505) or email tradingstandards@bridgend.gov.uk. Scams can also be reported to South Wales Police via the 101 non-emergency number. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​