Fraudulent E-mails Circulating Supposedly from HMRC

Taxpayers in UK have been alerted for being vigilant of scam e-mails supposedly dispatched from HMRC the department that collects taxes and customs, following a report during 2012 about 80,000-or-so phishing e-mails that got distributed regarding tax rebates, thus published guardian.co.uk dated February 19, 2013.

Taxpayers who complained about the e-mails described the message as promising to transfer certain tax re-imbursement but after getting the recipients' banking, credit card else other personal information. HMRC said that the e-mails usually began with the notification that the agency examined the reader's tax return and based on computations of his previous annual accounts, he's entitled for an X amount of tax-reimbursement.

Frighteningly, if anyone answers the fake e-mail, it'll induce dangers of fraud as also expose the taxpayer's information for sale to online-crooks.

The e-mails by only pretending to be genuine, so trick taxpayers that they may supply their details, usually, on a 'copycat' HMRC website.

During 2012, HMRC shutdown 522 illegitimate websites obtained through e-mails coming out of Japan, Russia, Eastern and Central Europe, and USA.

Digital Security Chief Gareth Lloyd at HMRC stated that the agency at all communicated with consumers, who were truly eligible for a tax refund, through postal letter. Thisisnottingham.co.uk published this dated February 19, 2013.

Furthermore, according to Lloyd, incase anybody got an e-mail promising an amount as tax-refund while asserting it was sent from HMRC, he was urged to forward the e-mail at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk prior to erasing it wholly. The department made sure consumers experienced safe browsing as it also coordinated directly with other bodies enforcing laws towards catching the criminals responsible for the heinous crime, he added. Hmrc.presscentre.com published this dated February 19, 2013.

However, to remain safe on the Internet HMRC outlines certain suggestions. First, users should examine the recommendation posted on hmrc.gov.uk for verifying if the obtained e-mail is genuine. Second, they should send dubious e-mails at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before erasing them. Third, they mustn't click web-links else view attachments within dubious e-mails. Fourth, they should do as advised on getsafeonline.co.uk. Finally, incase of believing one has been victimized with a scam e-mail, he should inform his card/banking institution.

Related article: Fraudulent Warning to Customers of Halifax

» SPAMfighter News - 2/22/2013