- Forward Thinking Advice
- Leading The Way - Personally
Click below to
download our phone app
Watch out for tax scam emails
September 2011
Taxpayers need to be extra vigilant after a recent increase in the number of emails in which thieves are impersonating the Taxman.
The warning comes after the latest figures from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) show a 300% increase in these emails, many of which provide a link to a bogus HMRC website where you are asked to give your bank details. Providing personal details online gives an opportunity not just for the victim’s bank account(s) to be emptied but for these details to be passed on to other criminal gangs.
Tax Partner, Ian Fawcett, comments “Unfortunately whilst the continuous innovation in technology predominantly improves our lives, thieves are also getting more and more sophisticated in their attempts to steal money from unsuspecting members of the public.
These scams have the ability to catch out even the sharpest of people, so we are encouraging everyone to be ultra vigilant. The dodgy websites often appear credible because HMRC does ask you to enter bank details online in a number of situations. However our advice would be to check the authenticity of an email by phoning your tax office using the number shown on an official document, such as your tax code or self-assessment statement.”
Anyone who receives an email claiming to be from HMRC is advised to do the following:
- Check the advice available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/index.htm to see if the email you have received is listed.
- DO NOT CLICK on any websites or links contained in suspicious emails or open any attachments.
- Forward suspicious emails to HMRC at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before deleting it from your computer or email account.
- Follow advice from www.getsafeonline.co.uk.