BOROUGH COUNCIL WARNS OF SCAM CALLS

Scam callers are targeting West Devon council tax payers trying to trick them to give their bank account details over the phone, the Borough Council has warned.

Elderly residents in the borough have contacted the Council to report the calls and the police have been informed.

An 81-year-old lady from Tavistock said she had received more than one call from a man claiming to be from the UK Ministry of Finance. He said she had paid too much Council Tax and he asked for her bank account details so he could refund her. Fortunately she refused to give him any details.

Another caller contacted an elderly lady in the Okehampton area telling her she was in arrears with her Council Tax instalments and demanded she paid within the next seven days to a specific account.

A spokesman for West Devon Borough Council said that the calls had been reported to the police and in both instances it was not the Council contacting customers.

The Council stresses that it would never directly contact people and ask for their bank details.

For more information or if you have any concerns, contact the Borough Council on 01822 813600.