News in from the Isle of Wight Council today warns that some households have on the Island have received suspicious phone calls regarding council tax refunds.
Apparently the caller claims to be ringing on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council and tells the person they’ve called that their property has been placed in the incorrect council tax band.
They go on to say that they will deal with the refund and ask for bank card details, claiming they will refund the £99.99 charge once the claim has been processed.
This is very clearly a telephone scam and the Isle of Wight Council stress that these persons are not acting on their behalf.
If you receive a call from the scammers, do not give out your bank details, but instead calls call either Hampshire Constabulary or IW Council Trading Standards.
Or better still – ask the scammers to hold the line for a moment and keep them hanging on for as long as you can.
The Trading Standards Department can be contacted on (01983) 821000.
Image: Loop_Oh under CC BY-SA 2.0
