Warning over council tax calls scam

A number of charge payers have complained to council bosses about the unwanted phone calls – which officials say smack of a fraud and have urged anyone affected to contact them immediately for advice.

Yesterday Alan McCarten, revenues team leader for Ryedale District Council, urged residents not to give their bank details to the company – which claims to be repaying council tax.

"The council would never telephone a customer and request that they provide bank details, which would suggest that whoever is making these calls is doing so with fraudulent intent," he added.

"I would urge anyone contacted in this way not to provide any personal or financial information and to contact Ryedale District Council immediately for advice."

He said staff at the authority had received a number of calls from customers in Ryedale who have said that they are being contacted by a company who state they have overpaid their council tax.

Subsequently, customers' bank details were being asked for in order to "repay" the overpayment directly into their bank account.