Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has issued a renewed warning to residents as it continues to receive complaints about a potential scam.
A number of residents have contacted the Council stating they were “cold-called” by a company that claims they are owed rebates on their Council Tax.
After asking which bank they use, which allows them to work out the first four digits of an account or debit card number, the scammers ask the customers to give them the rest of the number.
Similar calls have come into other councils across the UK, leading to a warning being issued to residents NOT to give their personal or banking details to anyone who calls their home.
In the latest case, a man contacted the Council after being phoned by a company called My Claims Help, which stated he was due a rebate of hundreds of pounds because his house was in the wrong Council Tax banding.
They secured his debit card number from him, but he immediately contacted his bank and cancelled it, before alerting the Council.
All residents are reminded that Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and, specifically its Council Tax department, would not cold call customers and ask for their details.
Anyone entitled to rebates or any other requests for information would be made in writing.
Those who receive a call at home are urged not to pass on financial details but to ascertain the caller’s identity, securing a contact number if possible.
All such incidents should then be reported to Trading Standards on 01443 425777 and South Wales Police via 101
