Council warns residents of convincing fake tax refund emails

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 17:08 · Archive

Braintree District Council has warned residents not to click links in fake council tax refund emails.

Braintree District Council has warned residents of a convincing scam involving fake council tax refund emails after receiving numerous reports from affected residents. People have reported receiving messages claiming they are due money back and encouraging them to click a link contained within an email. Officials have stressed the emails are not genuine.

The council said in a scam alert: 'We have received a number of emails and phone calls from residents who have been told they have a council tax refund due and to click a link in the email. This email is not genuine or from the council, please do not click the link or enter any personal details.'

The authority warned that fake emails are becoming increasingly convincing with the rise of artificial intelligence. Warning signs of a scam can include messages that put pressure on people to act quickly or contain an 'amazing, time-limited offer', emails that do not use the recipient's name, spelling or grammar mistakes, imagery or designs that do not look quite right, or an unusual email address.

The council urged people to be cautious about unknown links and requests for personal information. Anyone unsure about an email should visit the organisation's website directly rather than clicking through links in the message.

How it is being reported

• Urgent warning issued as residents targeted by 'convincing' scamBraintree District Council warns residents of fake council tax refund emails. Don’t click links or share personal details as AI scams become more convincing.Echo (Basildon) · 21 Oct, 15:34
• Urgent warning issued as residents targeted by 'convincing' scamBraintree District Council warns residents of fake council tax refund emails. Don’t click links or share personal details as AI scams become more convincing.Colchester Gazette · 21 Oct, 15:34

In this story: Braintree District Council

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