Merton Council’s Trading Standards team have become aware of a scam email circulating, concerning the Council Tax rebate recently announced by the Chancellor.

Merton will not be asking you to provide bank details in order for you to receive this rebate, or get you to register for it. In most cases it will be automatically refunded as a separate payment, rather than as part of your council tax bill, to allow the support to be provided to households more quickly.

For households who do not pay by direct debit, you will be written to, to explain how to obtain the refund.

These type of emails that people have been receiving are known as Phishing emails, and they are becoming ever more sophisticated. Our advice is to never trust an email that arrives out of the blue or that asks you to provide financial or other sensitive information.

Do not click on any links it provides and always log into your account directly with the organisation concerned to view any notifications there.

Further information can be found at:

5 Ways to Detect a Phishing Email: With Examples (itgovernance.co.uk) 

Phishing-attacks-dealing-suspicious-emails-infographic.pdf (ncsc.gov.uk)

Scams: how you can avoid them – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Alternatively, our Trading Standards team carries out regular free talks to residents teaching them about scams and how to stay safe.

If you are a member of a group or organisation and would like us to visit, please contact trading.standards@merton.gov.uk