Gwynedd Council issue warning over new Council Tax scam
Date: 12/04/2019
Gwynedd Trading Standards have issued a warning over a new council tax scam in which fraudsters are attempting to trick victims out of hundreds of pounds. Gwynedd residents are being told to remain vigilant after it emerged fraudsters were using a council tax rebate as a new way to con homeowners out of money. Victims of the scam are phoned and told they have been placed in the wrong tax bracket for a number of years.
They trick the unsuspecting person into thinking they are due a rebate, which they claim is worth thousands of pounds. Once the con artists have duped the target, they state that in order to get their hands on the cash they need a pay an “administration fee”. This varies between £60 and £350, but once the victim makes the payment all contact ceases.
They then find they can no longer get in contact with the person who phoned them, and when they take up the inquiry with their local council they are informed they have been scammed. John Eden Jones, Enforcement Officer for Gwynedd Trading Standards said: “Fraudsters are relentless and will work tirelessly to find new ways to convince people to part with their money. These criminals make several calls and will be particularly convincing and provide good reason for why the person should make an immediate payment.”
Councillor Gareth Griffith, Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet Member leading on Environment added: “Residents are advised to never give out card or bank details. “Furthermore, no council will phone out of the blue to discuss a council tax rate and no legitimate organisation will require you to pay a fee in advance Thank you to our Trading Standards team for raising awareness about this new scam, whilst continuing to do valuable work in protecting the people of Gwynedd from scams like this.”
Suspected victims are advised to hang up the call and report the attempted fraud to Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards Unit on 01766 771000 or via email:safmas@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
Cyngor Gwynedd yn rhoi rhybudd ynghylch sgam Treth Cyngor newydd
Dyddiad: 12/04/2019
Mae Safonau Masnach Gwynedd wedi cyhoeddi rhybudd am sgam treth cyngor newydd sy’n ceisio twyllo pobl allan o gannoedd o bunnoedd. Gofynnir i drigolion Gwynedd fod yn wyliadwrus gan ei bod yn amlwg bod twyllwyr yn defnyddio ad-daliad treth cyngor fel ffordd newydd o dwyllo perchnogion tai er mwyn dwyn arian oddi arnynt.
Maent yn ffonio dioddefwyr gan roi gwybod iddynt eu bod wedi cael eu rhoi yn y band treth cyngor anghywir ers nifer o flynyddoedd. Maent yn twyllo’r person diarwybod i feddwl bod ad-daliad yn ddyledus iddynt, sy’n werth miloedd o bunnoedd.
Unwaith y bydd person wedi cael ei dwyllo, maent yn datgan bod angen talu “ffi weinyddu” er mwyn cael eu dwylo ar yr arian.
Mae’r swm yma’n amrywio rhwng £60 a £350, ond unwaith y bydd y dioddefwr yn gwneud y taliad bydd pob cyswllt yn dod i ben.
Yna maent yn canfod na allant bellach gysylltu â’r person wnaeth eu ffonio, a phan fyddant yn holi’u cyngor lleol maent yn darganfod eu bod wedi cael eu twyllo.
Dywedodd John Eden Jones, Swyddog Masnachu Teg Cyngor Gwynedd: “Mae twyllwyr yn gweithio’n ddi-baid a diflino i ddod o hyd i ffyrdd newydd o ddarbwyllo pobl i roi eu harian iddynt. Mae’r troseddwyr hyn yn gwneud sawl galwad a byddant yn hynod argyhoeddiadol ac yn rhoi esgus da i’r unigolyn wneud taliad ar unwaith.”
Ychwanegodd y Cynghorydd Gareth Griffith, Aelod Cabinet Cyngor Gwynedd sy’n arwain ar faterion yr Amgylchedd: “Cynghorir preswylwyr i beidio byth â dosbarthu manylion eu cerdyn neu gyfrif banc. “Hefyd, ni fydd unrhyw gyngor yn ffonio’n ddirybudd i drafod cyfradd treth cyngor ac ni fydd unrhyw sefydliad cyfreithlon yn gofyn i chi dalu ffi ymlaen llaw. Diolch i’n tîm Safonau Masnach am godi ymwybyddiaeth am y sgam newydd hwn, gan barhau i wneud eu gwaith gwerthfawr o amddiffyn pobl Gwynedd rhag sgamiau fel hyn.”
Cynghorir dioddefwyr i roi’r ffôn i lawr ac adrodd am yr ymgais o dwyll i Uned Safonau Masnach Cyngor Gwynedd ar 01766 771000 neu drwy e-bost:safmas@gwynedd.llyw.cymru