Tax rebate Scam....BEWARE

[Bourkey]

HMRC have warned that a number of scam emails are circulating ahead of the 31 January SA deadline. The full text of their announcement is:

'We are aware of a high number of emails being sent out offering a tax rebate. HMRC would not inform customers of a tax rebate via email, or invite them to complete an online form to receive a rebate of tax.

Do not visit the website contained within the email or disclose any personal or payment information.

Email addresses used to distribute the tax rebate emails include:

notify2@hrms.co.uk

refundtax@hmrc.gov.co.uk

TaxRefund@hmrc.gov.uk

service@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

claims@hmrc.direct.gov.uk

notice@hmrc.gov.uk

hmrc@hmrc.gov.uk

admin@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

info@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

no-reply@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

HMRC does not send out emails using these email addresses'

For an example of a scam email click here

Magazine |

HMRC warns of â??most sophisticatedâ?? scam

HM Revenue & Customs has issued one of its strongest warnings yet over fraudsters targeting taxpayers with scam emails in the run up to the 31 January Self Assessment tax deadline.

Lesley Strathie, HMRC chief executive, said it is â??the most sophisticated and prolific phishing scam that we have encountered. 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. I would strongly encourage anyone receiving such an email to send it to us for investigation.â??

The scams tell the recipient they are due a tax refund and ask for bank or credit card details so that the fictitious tax refund can be paid out. HMRC is also aware of a growing number of telephone scams with fraudsters posing as tax officials arranging rebate payments.

All customers who provide their details to the fraudsters risk their accounts being emptied and credit cards used to their limit. The victim also risks having their personal details sold on to other organised criminal gangs.

The fraudsterâ??s email addresses contain authentic-looking patterns such as â??hmrc.gsi.gov.ukâ??. The Revenue advised:

â?¢ That any email appearing to originate from HMRC and which offers a tax refund should be forwarded unopened to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

â?¢ Not to click on website links contained in suspicious emails or open attachments.

If in doubt, check at www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/fraud-attempts.htm

HMRC is investigating such attacks and through co-operation with other law enforcement agencies in the UK and overseas a number of scam networks have been shut down â?? specifically in Austria, Mexico, USA, Thailand and Japan, it announced.

HMRC also warned the public to be aware of further fraudulent attempts to obtain personal information after the 31 January deadline has passed when many people will be waiting to hear about genuine tax refunds.

Since April 2008 HMRC has received over 11,000 reports of fraudulent repayment emails.

12/01/09

Bourkey

[Asad]

Fookers , thanks for the heads up bud

[Mikey Jay]

What deadline at the end of the month?

Am confused

Lots of scams going around atm though

[Asad]

Deadline to hand in the tax rebate? form thingy

[Mikey Jay]

I know not of this form

[Asad]

Hmmmm...its usually the "old" people who get one

[Mikey Jay]

Ah, tis ok then

[SpeedFreak]

I thought it was more for self-employed people? I dunno, but I always ignore any emails from companies that I don't know!

[BenV]

i thought it was if you earned under 5k ish a year and payed tax on it you could get it back

[Bildo]

I got a tax rebate today, and it wasn't a scam.

Needless to say the Starlet will be getting some toys this month.

[Phenom]

The deadline is for;

SELF ASSESSMENT TAX RETURNS.

[andybill]

anyone who deals with self assesment should not be stupid enough to read an email from HMRC and then give bank details. They would know it would take HMRC a good few months to even send them a letter saying they had overpaid let alone an email. On the other hand, if you have underpaid you would know within days