Durham County Council warns of fake council tax refund emails from no-reply@plantabird.com
Durham County Council warned on 1 November 2026 of fake council tax refund emails asking for bank details, reported as sent from no-reply@plantabird.com. The address may be spoofed or misused; the source does not say who owns the domain.
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Source: chroniclelive.co.uk · published
What happened
The Chronicle (Chronicle Live) reported on 1 November 2026 that Durham County Council has warned householders about a new council tax phishing scam. Fraudsters are sending emails claiming the recipient is due a council tax refund. The council shared the warning on its social media channels. It said it had been made aware of scam emails sent from the address no-reply@plantabird.com. The sender address may be spoofed or misused; the source does not say who owns the plantabird.com domain or link its owner to the scam.
How the scam works
According to the council's message, people receive an email saying they are due a council tax refund. The email prompts them to click a link or a button and then give their bank details so that the “refund” can be paid. The council told residents not to click the link or enter bank details, and asked people to check the sender's email address. The council also asked people to look at its guidance on how to spot a scam and to report suspicious emails to it.
The approach is a common one. A promised refund is attractive, and the request for bank details is presented as the way to receive it. Genuine councils do not normally ask for bank details through an emailed link in order to pay a refund. Details entered on a fake form can be used to take money from the account, to run further scams that use the information, or to impersonate the victim.
The article quotes Report Fraud's general advice on phishing. It lists warning signs such as a time-limited offer or strong encouragement to click, an email that does not use your name, spelling and grammar mistakes, a design that looks familiar but not quite right, an unusual email address and a request to share personal data. Report Fraud advises people who spot something wrong to stop, break the contact, check with the organisation using details they already know, and forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
Source
Chronicle Live, “Durham County Council issues ‘do not click’ warning over new tax refund scam”, 1 November 2026, quoting the council's social-media message and Report Fraud guidance.
Red flags
- An email saying you are due a council tax refund and asking you to click a link or button.
- A request for your bank details in order to receive a refund.
- A sender address you do not recognise, here reported as no-reply@plantabird.com.
- An email that does not use your name or comes from a no-reply address.
- A message that offers something unexpected or encourages you to click quickly.
If you were targeted
- 1Do not click the link or enter bank details in the email.
- 2Check your council tax account only through your council's own website or a number you already know.
- 3Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, and report fraud through Report Fraud.
- 4If you entered bank details, contact your bank straight away.
- 5Delete the email, and warn relatives who may also receive it.