News
Increase in tax rebate phishing emails
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned taxpayers not to respond to any email which promises them a tax repayment.
Fraudsters have sent out thousands of such 'phishing' emails, telling the recipient they are due a refund and directing them to an online form, which asks for bank or credit card details for the 'rebate' to be paid into. Anyone who provides their details in this way could have their accounts emptied and credit cards used up to their limit. These personal details could also be sold on to other organised criminal gangs.
HMRC has reiterated that it only ever contacts customers by post to inform them of a tax rebate, and it would also not ask for bank account details to be submitted online in this way.
A spokesperson for the department said: "We only ever contact customers who are due a refund in writing by post. We never use emails, telephone calls or external companies in these circumstances. We strongly urge anyone receiving such an email to send it to us for investigation before deleting it."