City of York Council Trading Standards has been informed by residents that they are receiving new e-mails, purporting to be from HMRC, offering a tax rebate.

The e-mails state that, in order to process the refund, recipients should confirm their bank details. Residents are advised not to click on the links. The e-mail is not from HMRC. If people receive such e-mails they should forward them to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete the e-mail.

The amount paid by drivers in parking fines in the City has gradually fallen over the years. The most recent published figures show the revenue collected from the penalty charge notices issued by the York Council was:

2006/07 £658,950

2007/08 £606,368

2008/09 £514,741

2009/10 £516,198

2010/11 £581,408

2011/12 £465,866

2012/13 £95,510

In 2011/12 4,021 recipients of tickets disputed them.

Of these, about half led to the notices being withdrawn.