The Local Govt Association has said that its local authority members are warning that criminals are cold calling residents and asking for their bank details so that the government's £150 energy bill rebate can be processed and paid into the bank account of the resident receiving the cold call. The LGA points out that councils will not ask for people's bank details over the phone and that residents who pay council tax by direct debit will receive the rebate direct into their bank account and those who do not pay CT by direct debit will receive a letter from the council with guidance about how to apply for the rebate.

Residents who receive telephone calls, texts or emails should not give out personal details including bank details and should not click on any links in any text or email that they receive. Cllr Mohan Iyengar, vice-chair of the LGA's safer and stronger communities board said " ..... criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to take advantage of the financial worries people are facing and as a result many of these scams look legitimate on first impression."