HMRC Warns Businesses of Fake Tax Rebate E-mails

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is asking businessmen in UK to be watchful of phishing e-mails abusing HMRC and offering fake tax rebates.

Details of the scam reveal that the fake e-mail will probably ask the recipients to 'validate', 'update', or 'confirm' their account details and will then direct them to a look-a-like of HMRC website.

Robert Sinclair, director, Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) received the recent fake e-mail, which was an alleged tax rebate message from customers@hmrc.gov.uk that highlighted the risk for brokers, a number of whom are self-employed and probably deal regularly with HMRC.

The subject of the e-mail read, "Reminder: Please Submit Your Refund Payment", told Mr. Sinclair. It talked about of a tax rebate of £256.99. The mail said that as high volume of refunds are due, Sinclair needs to fill up the online application.........the telephone help line doesn't support this application. The online form was in the form of e-mail attachment.

According to Sinclair, this scam might pose greatest risk to brokers, as per the news published by mortgageintroducer.com on May 13, 2010.

Meanwhile, HMRC once again notes that it never send tax rebate notifications via e-mail, or urges users to divulge their personal or financial details through e-mail. So it asks users to avoid giving their confidential details via an e-mail that claims to be from HMRC, as they may be providing these details to a bogus website.

HMRC further suggests users that if they have got an e-mail purporting to be from HMRC that is suspected to be fake, then they should immediately forward that mail to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk. It also advises them that in case they have already revealed their personal information, like HMRC User ID and password or National Insurance number, then they should forward short details to security.custcon@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.

Here, it is noteworthy that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the US is similarly warning American taxpayers to be cautious of online scammers sending fake e-mails promising tax rebates.

Related article: HMRC - Fake Refund E-mails Tricking Tax Payers

» SPAMfighter News - 5/22/2010