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HMRC targeted by 'tax return refund' phishing scam
Posted Jan 7, 2009
Many contractors will be amused to hear that HMRC is the latest organisation to be targeted by a 'phishing' scam.
Using 'high priority' email spam, the fake site uses promises of a tax refund to entice gullible citizens to part with their credit card information.
Fake Email
Chances are, over the past few days, you'll have received a 'high priority' email purporting to come from HMRC - offering a tax refund of £99.23. Once the recipient has somehow been convinced that this is a legitimate offer, they can click on a link to web form.
The hosted page uses the same stylesheet as HMRC and looks authentic, and has apparently fooled a number of taxpayers over the past week. Websense Security Labs issued a phishing alert yesterday. Interestingly, the site (which has now been removed) was hosted in Denmark.
Schoolboy Errors
Sadly, for the fake site owners, there were a number of glaring errors in the email which should alert anyone with common sense that this is a scam:
1) You don't need to submit your credit card information in order to receive a tax refund from HMRC.
2) According to the fake site, it would take "3 to 6 days to process" the card information. More like 3 to 6 months if HMRC are involved!
3) HMRC are extremely unlikely to send sensitive tax information via email. We just look forward to the dreaded "Self Assessment Statement" landing on the doormat each year.
On a more mundane note, contractors should be aware of the 31st January deadline for the return of all tax returns (and any tax due). You can read more here.
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