EAST Hampshire District Council has warned residents to be wary following reports of bogus callers tricking people into giving their bank details.

The Valuation Office Agency warned that it had become aware of a number of council-tax-refund scams in operation.

A person may telephone the victim, or appear personally at their door, claiming to be able to reduce council-tax bills

Examples of the tactics used by bogus agents to get victims to part with their money include: charging an up-front fee and promising a 20-per-cent reduction should they successfully reduce the council-tax band; insisting a person is in the wrong band and are owed back payments; saying they are from the council or Valuation Office Agency and asking for bank details so they can provide a refund (they will try to steal money from the bank account); incorrectly claiming the Valuation Office Agency charges a person for challenging their council tax band; falsely claiming that taxpayers must, by law, be represented by an agent to challenge their band, and stating that they are on an approved list of agents recognised by the Valuation Office Agency.

The agency advised people: “Remember you can have your band checked free of charge by contacting the Valuation Office Agency; confirm over the phone with a cold caller’s head office to check they are legitimate, and ensure that if the cold caller used the telephone, your last call ended properly before redialling the number.

“If you receive a call offering to reduce your band, make sure you are getting a dial tone before calling the council or the Valuation Office Agency to check their story.

“Inform the police if you believe that anyone is impersonating staff from your local council or the agency. Dial 999 if a doorstep cold caller refuses to leave your home.

“Don’t give bank details to anyone or let anyone into your home without seeing appropriate identification.”