SCAMMERS are offering fake energy efficiency grants officials have warned.

West Yorkshire Trading Standards is warning the public to watch out for traders who offer bogus environmental grants and claim to be able to reduce Council Tax banding for a fee.

The warning comes following an increase in reports of traders offering consumers grants that do not exist.

The con artists are also making claims that money can be saved by challenging your Council Tax band.

Householders have been receiving leaflets and cold calls from trades people offering grants towards double glazing and insulation that simply do not exist.

Adverts are also being placed and residents have been charged for services that can be got free of charge.

Rogue traders are known to overinflate their prices in order to give an apparent discount which is based around a grant.

Trading Standards say the grants are non existent and therefore the finished price is no cheaper than it would have been if the correct price was charged.

Trading Standards has also received reports of traders being invited into homes to carry out a survey on the property.

Householders have then been asked to sign a document on a handheld computer terminal to confirm they have received a quote for work.