RESIDENTS are warned to be on their guard after a spate of bogus tax calls in Fareham.

Fraudsters are ringing or texting residents and pretending to be from Fareham Borough Council and trying out a number of scams. These methods include claiming that the call recipient’s property is in the wrong council tax band and promising a refund, saying that the recipient must pay more tax to avoid a fine, and asking the recipient to sign up to an e-billing arrangement.

All lead to the resident being asked for personal details and bank numbers, which fraudsters say will be used to process a refund or make a payment.

Any genuine direct phone number given out by a council officer will be in the format 01329 824xxx.

Anyone who receives one of these calls is asked to report it to the national Action Fraud Hotline by calling 0300 1232040.

To discuss your council tax in Fareham call 01329 824651 or email counciltax@fareham.gov.uk.