Today I received an email telling me that I was entitled to a tax refund of £268.50! Of course this would be very nice, but as I make my living giving professional tax advice, I instantly knew that sadly this was just a scam. I have seen many of these before, but this is the first that I have been sent directly as the target of a tax refund scam! A copy of the email is below:
Many people have been caught by similar scams. HMRC never contact you this way, I quote from the HMRC website:
"HM Revenue & Customs will never send notifications of a tax rebate by email, or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email.
Do not visit the website contained within the email or disclose any personal or payment information.
Fake email addresses used to distribute the tax rebate emails include:
- services@hmrc.co.uk
- Message@tax.co.uk
- alertsonline@hmrc.co.uk
- info@hmrc.gov.uk
- noreply@hmrc.gov.uk
- securemail@hmrc.co.uk
- rebate@hmrc.gov.uk
- info.hmrc@direct.gov.uk
- email4983913@hmrc.gov.uk
- payment@hmrc.gov.uk
HMRC do not send emails using these email addresses."
The scammers are after your personal details, and normally ask for personal details such as:
- Full name
- Address
- Date of Birth
- National Insurance number
- Bank account details
- Credit card details
- Mother maiden name
- Occupation
- Sources of income
Imagine the potential damage they could cause with those details. So please be aware and never respond to these emails. If you receive one of these emails and are concerned then please contact me.
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