Residents Targeted By Council Tax Refund Scam

Caerphilly County Borough Council is keen to make residents aware of a telephone scam targeting council taxpayers over the age of 65. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A resident from the Bargoed area has recently contacted the council, after receiving a telephone call from someone purporting to be carrying out a survey of everyone over the age of 65. The caller advised that it had been discovered that the resident had been in the wrong council tax band since 1991 and subsequently was due a large refund. In order to have this ‘refund’, the resident was advised they’d need to pay £65. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fortunately, the resident had the foresight to realise that it was a scam and contacted Caerphilly County Borough Council to report what had happened. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Protection said, “These phone calls are in no way associated with this council and I would like to thank this resident for bringing this to our attention so that we can make other residents aware. To avoid being duped by this type of fraudulent activity, always remember the golden rule – never give bank or personal details to anyone that you do not know or trust, and if in any doubt please get in touch with our Trading Standards team for advice”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To report an issue to the council’s Trading Standards team, please call 01495 235 291 or visit www.caerphilly.gov.uk/tradingstandards ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​