FRAUDSTERS targetting Harrow residents may be getting personal information from bins, the council fears.

Residents are being urged to shred documents containing personal details before throwing them away as criminals have been running a phone scam in the borough.

Several of those targetted have told Harrow Council the dodgy callers had their tax reference number, full name and address and were offering a council tax refund.

The authority has confirmed the calls are fake and officers say they never ask for bank details over the phone.

Councillor Graham Henson, responsible for performance, customer services and corporate services, said: “I would ask all residents to be extra vigilant in shredding all personal information on their documents before disposing of it in their blue bins to stop these fraudsters from getting hold of it.

“The council has systems in place to arrange for the refund of council tax and we would never ask residents to provide their bank details over the telephone.

“Our advice would be that if you have any doubt, check it out. It only takes a moment to contact the council tax department to verify a call or email.”