We were contacted on Wednesday by a farmer who had recently sold a Massey Ferguson 135. The tractor had been in his ownership for 25 years. It had never been taxed, as it was used on the land only.

The vehicle had been subject to a small fire recently. The farmer agreed a deal for a replacement tractor, trading in his own for another 135.

On Tuesday morning, 1 October, he received a phone call from someone identifying themselves as being from the Department of the Environment, claiming that €1,800 was owed in back tax.

Even more curiously, he claimed that there was a further €500 due for failing to call for the fire brigade when the fire occurred.

This is a scam. We contacted Cork County Council and the Department of the Environment.

Both assured us that they are not at this point contacting vehicle owners by phone looking for payment of back tax. In fact, both said that they never would make contact by phone,

If motor tax was deemed to be due, the procedure they would follow would be entirely different. Contact would always be by post, and collection of money is not routine.

If payment is not made, a judgement may be sought. If that is successful, collection would be made by the county sheriff.

Similar scams have been reported in relation to water charges. Bogus “collectors” of water-rates have been on the rounds, trying to get payment on the spot from householders.