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HMRC Cautions about Tax-related Phishing E-mails

HMRC has issued an alert to people for remaining vigilant about fresh e-mail scams crafted for deceiving users into divulging personal banking information, published moneyfacts.co.uk dated May 21, 2012.

It maybe mentioned that HMRC, which isn't any ministerial department under the British Government, does the service of tax-collection.

Usually, as the deadline for renewal of tax-credits approaches, there's a rise in the above kinds of e-mail scams. They declare that clients that get the credits can replenish their claims latest by July 31, 2012 else become endangered with losing the said claims.

Typically, the scam e-mail invites the taxpayer for following a given web-link that, however, lands him onto a copycat HMRC site that asks for payment card details from the user along with his CVV number and password.

In the aftermath, the victim loses funds out of his financial account alternatively his private particulars that are traded off to other criminals seeking to commit ID-fraud.

DG or Director General, Steve Lamey for Benefits and Credits informed that if ever the agency got in touch with consumers for whom a tax reimbursement was due, it would send a postal communication. There was never the use of e-mails, phone-calls alternatively external companies during such situations. Egovmonitor.com reported this dated May 21, 2012.

Meanwhile to probe into phishing scams as also terminate them, HMRC coordinates with additional agencies of law enforcement both inside and outside UK. Evidently, there's been successful closures of scam networks within the UK, US, Mexico, Austria, Thailand, South Korea and Japan.

However, taxpayers can avoid getting defrauded with the latest scam if according to HMRC, first, they verify the advice posted on the page www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/index.htm for knowing whether the e-mail received has been mentioned within it. Second, they don't click web-links or other elements inside dubious e-mails as also not open attachments. Third, they forward the dubious electronic mails at HMRC's phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before erasing them wholly.

Besides the agency states that incase anybody thinks that an HMRC-spoofed e-mail has victimized him then he must inform his financial institution immediately. Still if he feels suspicious he should verify about it from hmrc.gov.uk/security/fraud-attempts.htm.

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

» SPAMfighter News - 5/30/2012

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