### Scam Warning Issued as Council Tax Fraud Emails Circulate Among Swansea Residents
Residents of Swansea have been cautioned about a new wave of scam emails purporting to be official council tax notifications, sparking widespread concern about fraud and online safety in the area. Local authorities, including council officials, have urged citizens to refrain from clicking on any suspicious links and to delete the emails without engaging further.
The fraudulent emails appear to mimic legitimate council correspondence, with the subject line ‘Council Tax Payment Verification’ and are addressed to a ‘Household Representative’. The messages claim that the recipient has an outstanding balance on their council tax and urge them to click a link titled ‘confirm your payment status’ to resolve the matter.
Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart has spoken out about the scam on social media, emphasising the danger of interacting with the email. “We have received reports of scam emails being sent to residents. They look like council tax payment reminders with a fake link to click on – an example is below,” he stated in a Facebook post. “Please DO NOT click on the link as these are scam emails. These emails are not sent by the Council Tax team and should be deleted.”
According to official council reports, the scam emails have originated from suspicious addresses such as ‘District Tax Administration ’ and ‘rh@raysandy.plus.com>’. These do not correspond to any genuine council email accounts, reinforcing the fraudulent nature of the correspondence.
The content of the phishing emails warns residents that their council tax accounts are flagged with an outstanding balance, stating, “We’re writing to inform you that our system shows an outstanding balance for your council tax. This may represent a genuine non-payment or could be due to processing delays. To ensure accurate accounting and prevent any service implications, we request that you verify your recent payment activity with our records.” This is followed by a prompt to click a dubious link—classic tactics used by cybercriminals to harvest personal information or financial details.
A spokesperson for Swansea Council added further clarity, saying, “We’re getting reports that residents are receiving emails claiming to be from the council, stating there is an outstanding Council Tax balance due on their account and asking them to click on a link to check their payments. The reported emails have been sent from suspicious addresses. These emails are a scam and should be ignored or deleted. At the moment, the council issues payment reminders by post only.”
The local authority has reiterated that all official council tax reminders are sent exclusively via traditional post and never by email. Residents are being encouraged to exercise caution and to consult the official council website or telephone helpline should they have any doubts about their council tax status.
This warning comes amidst a wider trend of phishing attempts exploiting the branding and authority of local councils, with fraudsters banking on the public’s trust in government communications. Such scams have become all too familiar in recent years, especially as digital communication increases and criminals find new methods to dupe unsuspecting recipients.
Cybersecurity organisations have repeated that residents should never click on unsolicited links, enter personal information, or download attachments in emails from unknown senders. In cases where a scam is suspected, it is always best to independently verify any requests by directly contacting the relevant authority using established contact details.
In summary, Swansea Council’s swift response to the scam alert aims to protect residents from falling victim to potentially costly cybercrime. The council further encourages the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious communications. As cyber threats continue to evolve, awareness and a cautious approach remain key defences for the local community.