Bracknell Forest residents are urged to be on their guard against con-artists posing as officials in a council tax refund scam circulating the area.
A Warfield resident has been approached by one of the scammers this week, who posed as a bogus Bracknell council official and claimed the resident was entitled to a council tax refund. The bogus caller tried to obtain the resident’s bank details during the phone call, but the resident refused and alerted the council and police.
Bracknell Forest Council is now warning all residents to be exceptionally careful when speaking to anyone claiming to be a council employee.
Residents should be aware that Bracknell Forest Council does not phone or email residents asking for bank details.
Refunds are made direct to a bank account if the resident pays by direct debit, in which case the council already has the information it needs to complete the transaction. Any request to confirm or provided bank details would always be made in writing.
A council tax scam has been operating nationally for some time, but this is the first time a resident in Bracknell Forest has been approached.
Anyone contacted about a council tax refund, by someone claiming to be from Bracknell Forest Council should take down the caller’s name and department and telephone revenue services on 01344 352011 to check the caller is in fact a member of staff.
Bracknell Forest Council