RESIDENTS are being advised by Coventry Trading Standards to remain vigilant against bogus emails and calls following a trail of attempted scams in the city.
Numerous people living in the city have reported receiving an email alleging to have come from HMRC, explaining that they are due Council tax refunds.
The email includes a false link from HMRC to complete a form in which personal information is asked for, including bank details.
HMRC will never send notifications of a tax rebate by email or ask a person to disclose personal or payment information.
Residents are being advised to not click on any link contained within the email or disclose any personal or payment information.
Furthermore, the Trading Standards team are warning the public to be way of untrue telephone calls referring to compensation for overpaid bank charges.
The advice follows a report of a resident in Westwood Heath who received a phone call from a man claiming they were due a large refund under a new Government directive due to banks overcharging on fees.
Thankfully, the resident did not give any of the personal information that was requested and hung up.
However should the conversation continued, the resident would’ve been likely to hand over ‘fees’ to facilitate the ‘refund’.
Trading Standards are asking people to be wary should you be asked to pay an upfront fee for anything you have not asked for.
Furthermore, should payment be requested by way of voucher, members of the public should be aware many electronic payment vouchers are untraceable and irrecoverable – making them highly attractive payment methods to fraudsters.
Visit www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk for further information or call 08000 234567.
