HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued a warning to taxpayers about a surge in fake ‘phishing’ emails claiming to offer tax rebates.
The fake emails were issued to coincide with the self-assessment deadline on 31st January and encourage the recipient to click on a hyperlink to claim their tax rebate.
This link takes you through to a fake HMRC website where bank or credit card details are requested.
In addition to the risk of losing a lot of money, victims could have their details sold on to other criminal gangs who will then target them again in the future.
HMRC never contacts taxpayers with details of a tax rebate by email, only writing by post with this information.
If you have received a tax-rebate email from HMRC it is a fake. You should forward it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then immediately delete the email from your system. Do not click on any links in the email as this could infect your PC with spyware or other nasty viruses.
If you think that you might have been a victim of this fraud, you should contact your bank and card issuer as soon as possible to let them know.
Photo credit: Flickr/ToastyKen
