Fraudulent E-mails Pretending to be from HMRC Target Taxpayers

Scam e-mails posing as messages from United Kingdom's tax and customs dept., HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs) are presently circulating online as they aim attack on innocent people, published Help Net Security dated July 2, 2012.

Displaying a caption "HMRC Message: Your Tax Refund Notification" and addressing the recipient as taxpayer, the fake electronic mail tells him that following the latest yearly computations of his financial operations, HMRC has found that he is entitled for getting 327.65 pounds as tax refund. Therefore, he may fill out the tax reimbursement application form while let 2-3 days for its processing, the e-mail urges.

Thereafter, it states that delay of a refund is attributed to several reasons like submitting unconfirmed information alternatively sending the request, post deadline. The tax refund form can be accessed via following a given web-link, the message goes on.

Subsequently, it adds that to maintain security, the agency will keep the recipient's time and date of application, while cautions that purposeful incorrect inputs are liable for legal prosecution.

Finally, the e-mail signs off from HMRC.

Expectedly according to security analysts who examined the scam electronic mail, every financial particular the user provides within the given Internet application form automatically goes to the scam's perpetrators.

Meanwhile, HMRC reminded that the tax body similar to any other country's tax-collecting institution wouldn't ever dispatch tax refund notices through electronic mail as also ever ask taxpayers for their financial or other personal details via clicking a web-link alternatively viewing an attachment inside one uninvited e-mail.

Hence, anyone getting one likewise e-mail should know that it was false, added HMRC.

Moreover, in case anyone suspected an e-mail's genuineness he should ignore its embedded web-link and type in the URL inside his browser's address bar to access the site directly.

HMRC also urged recipients of suspicious e-mails for forwarding the messages at phishing@hmrc.gsi.

Finally, it advised the general public through its security advisory that in case anyone unknowingly revealed personal details say his National Insurance Number alternatively HMRC username/password while answering to an alleged HMRC e-mail he should immediately inform with brief details at security.custcon@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.

Related article: Fraudulent Warning to Customers of Halifax

» SPAMfighter News - 7/9/2012