HOUSEHOLDERS are facing a “barrage” of council tax scams offering bogus refunds or threatening fines, town hall leaders have warned.

Fraudsters are telling people via text, email and phone that they have either paid too much council tax and are due a refund, which they offer to claim on their behalf for a “fee”, or demand payment for arrears, the Local Government Association (LGA) said.

Another scam aims to convince people their property is in the wrong council tax band and offers to secure a refund, again in return for a payment.

Council tax band reassessments are available for free but fees of £150 have been quoted in the scams which falsely claim to be from local councils or the Valuation Office Agency in a bid to appear official.

Some also use the Government’s GOV.UK branding in text messages and often include a link to a fake website to claim the refund. The LGA is urging anyone who receives an email, text message or phone call offering a council tax refund not to give out any personal information, particularly bank account details, or debit or credit card details.

Simon Blackburn, chairman of the LGA’s safer and stronger communities board, said: “Cold-hearted criminals are using more convincing council tax scams which are being sent out barrage-style and reported by local authorities all across the country.

“These council tax scams can damage people’s lives, both financially and emotionally, and anyone can be fooled by them, especially if they appear to look official.”

“Anyone who is contacted about a council tax refund or assessment over their council tax band which includes a request for personal information and bank details should ignore it and report it.

“Councils will never phone, text or email residents to ask for a payment to release a council tax refund or ask for personal bank details.

“Most fraud is preventable if individuals and businesses follow simple advice, but victims shouldn’t suffer in silence or feel embarrassed. By reporting a scam, people can help someone else avoid being a victim.”

Anyone who receives a suspected council tax scam can report it to their local council.

Earlier this year, Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle and Ribble Valley Councils all issued advice to residents urging them to be on the lookout for scams. Several householders in the Ribble Valley received emails and texts purporting to come from the government.

The scam messages claim households had been placed in the wrong band at a previous address and promise refunds of hundreds of pounds in exchange for personal details.

Similarly, people in Pendle received text messages claiming they are due a council tax refund and are given a link to click through to a website.

In Blackburn with Darwen, text messages have been received claiming people are entitled to a tax rebate from Blackburn with Darwen Council and advising them to go to a website to make their claim.