Council tax scam warning

Rochdale Borough Council’s trading standards team is warning all residents to be on their guard after a Middleton resident was phoned by fraudsters offering to refund a council tax overpayment.

The fraudsters, posing as council staff, claimed too much council tax had been paid and then asked for bank account details, so that it could be paid back.

The same scam has been used in Rochdale and a number of Greater Manchester boroughs in the past. Fortunately, the quick-witted resident refused to provide bank details and called the council instead. But trading standards now fear that fraudsters may be targeting the borough once more.

Rochdale Borough Council’s cabinet member for development, Councillor Dale Mulgrew said:“Residents giving out their bank or credit card details risk having money taken from their accounts.

“Our council tax team do not make these types of phone calls, so we would urge residents never to give out personal information, unless they know who the caller is.”

Anyone who receives a suspicious call, or has further information about the scam, such as a name, address or telephone number, should report it to trading standards on 08454 04 05 06