A warning has been issued about scammers cold calling people and claiming they are owed a refund of around $7,000 from the repeal of the carbon tax.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said the callers claim to be from a government department and ask for personal and bank account details.

The ACCC’s Delia Rickard said a number of complaints have been received about the scam.

“So really be on guard, I mean this is not how the carbon tax is going to be returned from energy companies,” she said.

“If you get one of these calls, I would just hang up.

“But if you’re in any doubt don’t use their contact details. Independently source them through the phone book, through a Google search and call them that way to check.”

The carbon tax repeal bills passed the Senate in July, fulfilling a key election promise for Prime Minister Tony Abbott.