21 May 2012
Tax credit claimants warned to beware of email scams
Below we have reproduced a warning that has been issued by HMRC about possible fake or “phishing” emails sent out by fraudsters. The period in the run-up to the tax credits renewal deadline (31 July) often sees an increase in such attacks.
The phishing emails often promise a rebate and, if taxpayers click on the link, they are taken to a cloned replica of the HMRC website. The recipient is asked to provide credit or debit card details or other sensitive information such as passwords. Fraudsters then try to take money from the account.
Victims risk having money stolen from their bank accounts, or their personal details being sold on to criminal gangs for identify fraud.
During last year’s tax credits renewals period, from April to July, nearly 94,000 phishing emails were reported to HMRC. Even though HMRC helped shut down more than 360 scam websites during the period, others continue to be created.
Steve Lamey, Director General for Benefits and Credits, said:
“We only ever contact customers who are due a tax refund in writing by post. We don’t use telephone calls, emails or external companies in these circumstances. Anyone who receives an email claiming to be from HMRC should send it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before deleting it permanently.”
HMRC works with other law enforcement agencies in the UK and overseas to investigate and shut down phishing attacks. Scam networks have been closed in a number of countries, including Austria, Mexico, the UK, South Korea, the USA, Thailand and Japan.
HMRC advises customers to:
- Check the advice published at www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/index.htm to see if an email received is listed
- Forward suspicious emails to HMRC at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete them
- Not click on websites or links contained in suspicious emails, nor to open attachments
- Follow advice from www.getsafeonline.co.uk
If people believe that they have been the victim of an email scam, they should report the matter to their bank/ card issuer as soon as possible. Anyone in doubt should check with HMRC at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/fraud-attempts.htm
Notes for editors
1. Scam emails often begin with a sentence such as “we have reviewed your tax return and our calculations of your last years accounts show a tax refund of XXXX is due”.
2. In May 2011, a record 26,301 phishing attempts were reported to HMRC.
We have written a detailed guide about the renewals process which explains what packs claimants should receive, what they need to do and other points about the process that advisers should be aware such as what to do if your client has missed the deadline or wants to withdraw from the system.
HMRC has produced a help-sheet about renewals aimed at advisers. It outlines the renewals process and some of the issues that advisers may come across (although they haven’t updated it for 2012). They also have information about the process on their website aimed at claimants.
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