Criminals are still taking to the phones in a bid to trick bank details out of unwary people, despite their scam being uncovered months ago.
The Courier told in March how cold callers had been contacting households across Tayside and Fife stating they were due a substantial council tax rebate and then fishing for account information.
Trading Standards quickly dismissed the calls as attempted theft but it has not deterred the conmen, as one Perth pensioner explained this week.
She said, “An eastern European woman came on the phone telling me I was due a council tax rebate and then mentioned I was due a rebate from the British Council and that’s when I knew that she was at it.
“I told her I have always paid my tax to the local council and she hung up. I know they try and find vulnerable people and this time she did manage to pick a pensioner but she picked the wrong one because I used to be a lawyer.
“The other thing she said was that I was due this rebate because I have paid my tax regularly for five years and I wonder how she knew that, but I suppose it was just a lucky guess.Targeting”She picked the wrong person this time but it’s important to stress these criminals are still targeting people.”
The caller leaves a reference number and phone contact number and requests bank details to pay the credit in directly.
Perth and Kinross Council community safety convener Councillor Willie Robertson said, “These phone calls have no connection to the council and we urge people not to give their bank details or other personal information to people who contact them out of the blue.
“As a rule you should never give your bank details to anyone who contacts you over the phone. Local authorities do not contact people in this way to offer refunds.
“If there has been an over or undercharge on your council tax, the council will calculate what is owed and then write to explain what has happened.
“If you think you have received a scam phone call and you have given out any confidential bank details, you should contact your bank and let them know what has happened.”