A CONMAN has been calling residents in Ealing posing as a council official and offering tax rebates in return for bank details.
It has prompted Ealing Council to issue a warning to householders to be alert to the scam and not to offer any bank or credit card details.
The warning comes after a resident was contacted by a man who claimed the householder was entitled to a council tax rebate because he had a 'good track record of paying on time'.
He asked for the resident's bank details but fortunately he realised the caller was a fraudster and put the phone down.
Council Leader, Councillor Julian Bell, said: “We’re concerned that someone is posing as a council officer in order to get residents’ bank or credit card details. People should always be very careful before giving out their details and if they receive an unsolicited call like this I’d ask them to hang-up and report the matter on the fraud hotline.”
Nobody at Ealing Council would offer a rebate over the phone, said the council.
Anyone with concerns about a caller is advised take down the person’s name and which department they are from. They should then call back via the council’s main switchboard on 020 8825 5000 and ask to be put through to that person.
The council’s audit and investigation department are aware of the incident and are liaising with police. Residents who believe they have been contacted by a fraudster should call the fraud hotline immediately on 0800 328 6453 giving as much information as possible about the call, including the telephone number it was made from.
