Wandsworth residents are the targets of a sophisticated council tax scam by thieves, trading standards officers have warned.

Con-artists are using the promise of council tax rebates to obtain residents' bank details and other sensitive personal information.

Armed with this important data, the fraudsters are then able to empty their victim's bank accounts.

Their latest tactic is to telephone householders and masquerade as council tax officials.

They are either told they have paid too much and are entitled to a rebate, or that they have not paid enough and need to top up their payments.

In both scenarios, the caller asks for bank account details and other information such as date of birth and becomes quite insistent if refused.

The scam has been reported to trading standards in Wandsworth and is also believed to be happening in other parts of the country.

Now trading standards officers are urging people to be on their guard against the confidence tricksters and to also report any similar incidents.

Anyone who receives such a call should report it to trading standards on 020 8871 7720 or by emailing tradingstandards@wandsworth.gov.uk.