Tax phishing emails
The problem of fraudulent emails being sent to taxpayers is continuing. The emails typically inform the recipient that they are due a tax rebate, and often provide a click-through link to a clone of the HMRC website. The recipient is asked to provide their credit card details. These are not genuine HMRC messages and should be disregarded. It is a phishing exercise that uses bogus e-mails and websites to trick taxpayers into supplying confidential or personal information.
A helpful list of emails currently being sent by HMRC has recently been published. The emails relate to the following subject areas:
- Self Assessment Online e-mail Alert
- PAYE notices and Reminders
- EU VAT refund claim
- Online Tax Registration for VAT
- Educational emails
It is important to note that HMRC never send notifications of a tax rebate, or ask taxpayers to disclose personal or payment information by email. Any of our readers who are unsure as to the authenticity of any email purporting to be from HMRC should avoid clicking on any links until satisfied that the email is legitimate.