POWYS residents are being warned of a potential scam involving people claiming to be from the local council tax office.
Powys County Council is issuing the warning following reports where people have made unsolicited telephone calls to households in Powys asking for their bank account details. Householders were asked to hand over their details under the pretence they were due a council tax refund.
Clive Jones, the council’s principal Trading Standards officer, said: “Although a general warning was issued to Powys residents last year saying that this scam was operating in other parts of Wales and the UK, scammers are now targeting Powys households.
“The council’s revenues and benefits department, which includes council tax, does not make unsolicited calls to households asking for their bank account details. Only Powys County Council has the ability to arrange a council tax refund and we ask people to fill in specific forms in order to arrange this.
"Don’t give out your personal or private details unless you have instigated the call and are sure that the person you are speaking to is completely genuine."
The council advises that if you are uncertain if any caller is genuine, ask for the person's name and extension number, then call the council tax switchboard on 01597 827463 or 0845 602 7033 and ask to be put through to them.
If you think that you have been targeted by a scam, the contact the council’s Trading Standards Service on Brecon 01874 623420; Llandrindod Wells 01597 826032; Newtown 01686 617524.