Shepway Council is warning residents about a council tax rebate scam.

The council's customer services team received two calls this week from customers saying that they received a call from the council on Saturday to advise them that they had been overpaying their council tax and were due a large refund. The caller asked for their bank details so that the rebate could be paid in.

"Neither customer disclosed any information and one reported the incident to the police," said Cllr Pam Carr, Cabinet Member for Customer Services. "The council does not contact residents over the phone to arrange council tax rebates and never asks bank details except when a resident phones to discuss payments of their council tax bills or reminder notices.

"No-one should give their bank details or make payment to anyone who calls out of the blue. Personal details can be sold on or missed and unauthorised withdrawals taken from bank accounts."

It is believed that similar scams are operating in other council areas across the country.