EAST: Warning Over Tax Rebate Scam
Thousands of people in Norfolk and Suffolk are being warned about scam emails which say they're due a tax rebate.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is warning taxpayers in the East of England not to fall victim to ‘phishing’ emails sent out by fraudsters in the run-up to the self-assessment deadline of 31 January.
The email tells the recipient they are due a tax rebate, and provides a link to a clone of HMRC’s website where the recipient is asked to give their credit card or bank details. Fraudsters then try to take money from the account using the details provided. Victims risk having their bank accounts emptied and their personal details sold on to other organised criminal gangs.
Cliff Hathaway from the HMRC has this advice:
HMRC strongly advises customers to:
- Check the advice published at www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/index.htm to see if the email you have received is listed
- Forward suspicious emails to HMRC at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete it from your computer/mail account
- Do not click on websites, links contained in suspicious emails or open attachments
- Follow advice from www.getsafeonline.co.uk
If you have reason to believe that you have been the victim of an email scam, report the matter to your bank/card issuer as soon as possible. If in doubt please check with HMRC at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/fraud-attempts.htm