Warrington Trading Standards is warning people in Warrington, Cheshire, to double-check bank details on any invoices they receive as the tax year end approaches. Officials say that criminals are sending out bills that look real but have had the bank account numbers changed to redirect payments to the scammers.
The risk of this type of fraud is higher right now because the UK tax year ends on 5 April 2026. Scammers try to take advantage of the pressure residents feel to settle their financial accounts and pay off bills before the deadline, which often coincides with the end of the corporate financial year on 31 March.
According to Warrington Trading Standards, anyone who receives an invoice should “Take Five” to pause and think before making a payment. The advice is to contact the supplier directly through a phone number or email address they already trust to confirm the bank details are correct.
Residents are being told to be very suspicious of any unexpected changes to payment information on a bill. Reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities can help the local authority protect others in the community from losing money to these scams.
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