Fraudsters target online tax returns

Hospitality businesses completing their tax returns online are being warned to be vigilant against fake emails appearing to be from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Thousands of scam emails are circulating in the run up to the 31 January deadline.

HMRC also warned the public to be aware of further fraudulent attempts to obtain personal information after the 31 January deadline has passed when many people will be waiting to hear about genuine tax refunds.

The scams tell the recipient they are due a tax refund and ask for bank or credit card details so that the fictitious tax refund can be paid out.

HMRC is also aware of a growing number of telephone scams with fraudsters posing as tax officials arranging rebate payments.

All customers who provide their details to the fraudsters risk their accounts being emptied and credit cards used to their limit. The victim also risks having their personal details sold on to other organised criminal gangs.

Lesley Strathie, HMRC Chief Executive said: "This is the most sophisticated and prolific phishing scam that we have encountered. We only ever contact customers who are due a refund in writing by post. We never use emails, telephone calls or external companies in these circumstances. I would strongly encourage anyone receiving such an email to send it to us for investigation."

Advice from the government suggests:

* that any email appearing to originate from HMRC and which offers a tax refund should be forwarded unopened to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

* Do not click on websites links contained in suspicious emails or open attachments.

Email addresses used to distribute the fake tax rebate emails include:

notify2@hrms.co.uk
refundtax@hmrc.gov.co.uk
TaxRefund@hmrc.gov.uk
service@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
claims@hmrc.direct.gov.uk
notice@hmrc.gov.uk
hmrc@hmrc.gov.uk
admin@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
info@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
no-reply@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

HMRC says it does not send out emails using these addresses. For an example of the fake emails click here.

Words: Clare Riley

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