Colchester City Council in Essex issued an urgent alert on February 16, 2026, to protect residents from fraudsters sending fake emails and texts about council tax refunds. These scams often involve a message or phone call claiming a household is owed money and asking for bank or credit card details.
The Colchester City Council advises anyone who receives these suspicious contacts to never give out personal information. Residents who have concerns about a message they have received should call the council tax team directly on 01206 282300 to verify the claim.
Officials also warned against following “freeman on the land” advice, which uses misleading theories to suggest that paying tax is a choice based on a contract. The council clarified that council tax is a legal requirement and that a signature or “wet ink” is not needed to make a bill or court summons valid.
The warning arrives as the city prepares for a 2.99 per cent tax increase and a new Local Council Tax Support scheme that begins on April 1, 2026. The council urges residents to be cautious of any articles or templates that promise ways to avoid tax bills through common law.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
