People are being warned to watch out for heartless scammers who are cold-calling people asking for their bank details. Councils are warning that criminals are using the government's £150 Council Tax Rebate scheme to con people into handing out their personal details.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the rebate scheme to help people with the rising cost of energy bills earlier this year. Anyone who lives in a Council Tax Band A to D home is entitled to the automatic £150 payment.
Individual local authorities are responsible for making the payments, and councils are now urging households to beware of a scam targetting those eligible for the scheme. Anyone who unexpectedly receives a text, email or phone call seeking information or payment should not give out personal information, including bank details, click any links or respond until they can be sure it is genuine, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
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Households that pay their council tax bill by direct debit will receive the Council Tax Rebate payment directly into their bank account, while those who do not pay their council tax by direct debit will be contacted by their local authority with details of how to claim the money.
Anyone who receives a message or call about the rebate and is unsure if it is genuine should find the details online of the organisation claiming to be in contact and check with them directly.
Mohan Iyengar, vice-chairman of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Councils are working hard to ensure eligible residents receive their energy rebate payments as soon as possible, however criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to take advantage of the financial worries people are facing and as a result many of these scams look legitimate on first impression.
“Anyone can fall victim to a scam, and we urge people of all ages to brush up on the tell-tale signs, and the support available to those who need it. If you get sent a message that you believe to be fraudulent, you can report it to your mobile phone provider or by forwarding the message to 7726, a free reporting service provided by phone operators. You should also report the scam to Action Fraud to help others avoid falling victim in the future.”
The pandemic saw a sharp increase in scams, which included promises of a payment from HM Revenue and Customs to support individuals during the lockdown or offers of a vaccination booking for a fee.
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