New reports of scam emails offering Council Tax refund

We’ve had some new reports of people receiving official-looking emails that offer them refunds on their Council Tax.

This is a scam!

This is a familiar scam…don’t click on any of the links within the email.

The email begins “You have a new message from GOV.UK about your Council Tax”.

Further down the message, you will be informed “You are getting a Council Tax Reduction (this used to be called Council Tax Benefit) considering you’re on a low income or get benefits.”

The amount you’re supposedly being refunded is likely to be in the hundreds of pounds. In the email we’ve seen, it was £385.50.

Underneath this is a clickable link “Claim your Council Tax Reduction Now”. Don’t click this link.

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We know anything telling you that you might have paid too much Council Tax might seem very attractive, and it can be very tempting to follow such messages up, but doing so will leave you vulnerable to having your information stolen.

Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

How to deal with suspicious emails

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recently created the Suspicious Email Reporting Service which makes it easy for people to forward suspicious emails to them.

The NCSC will then analyse the suspect email and any websites it links to.

You can find details of this here… 

“But what if I think I’m in credit?”

If you think you might be in credit on your Council Tax account, there’s a very simple way to find out.

Just call up our finance helpline on 01978 298992 or e-mail counciltax@wrexham.gov.uk

They’ll be very happy to check your account and give you any help you need.

Report a cyber crime

If you think you may have been the victim of fraud or cyber-crime, you should report this to Action Fraud via their website or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Action Fraud is the UK’s National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre.

Stay safe and please stay scam aware.

Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.

Text messages or phone calls offering Council Tax refund are scams!