Taxpayers in Shropshire were today warned by council chiefs over hoax officials asking for bank details. Residents are being phoned by someone claiming to be from “the council”.

Shropshire Council said scammers were calling residents at home and asking for their bank details and telling them they were due a council tax rebate.

They are then told there has been an adjustment in their council tax banding which has created a credit on their account.

The caller is then asked to provide full bank details in order for a refund to be processed.

But Shropshire Council said today that it does not contact residents over the phone to arrange council tax refunds and never requests personal bank details except when a resident phones the council to discuss payments of their bills by Direct Debit.

Officials said the scam also appeared to happening in other parts of the country.

Steph Jackson, head of exchequer services at Shropshire Council, said: “Please exercise extreme caution if you receive a call from anyone claiming they are a council officer.

“On occasion, the council tax office will phone residents to discuss payment, but a council officer will have all your council tax information on hand and will not require confirmation of details.

“In most cases the council tax office will notify residents of any refunds due in writing.

“If you receive a call from anyone claiming they are from the council saying you are due a council tax refund, it will be a scam and you should contact the police.”

For enquiries regarding council tax, contact Shropshire Council on 0345 6789002.