Fraudsters phoning residents to get bank details
Residents of the London Borough of Hounslow are being urged to be careful about giving out personal details to people calling them claiming to work for the council.
Across west London, scores of residents – many of them elderly – have been contacted by people claiming to work for the council about a refund on their council tax.
The caller asks for bank details so they can return their cash.
Residents should ignore any approaches along these lines or from people claiming to be working on behalf of a council. If refunds were due, people would be contacted by the council directly, and they often already hold bank details. Even if people are asked for their bank account details to confirm their identity they should never give their full account details.
Cllr Richard Foote, cabinet member for community protection, Hounslow Council, said: “Residents should think very carefully before they disclose personal details to people over the telephone.
“Our staff, or any company we work with, would never make an approach like this so please be cautious.
“If you’re uncertain, simply decline to answer the company’s questions and check it out with us.
If an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is.”
For more information about council tax, including how to contact the team to find out more, visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/council_tax.
September 4, 2014