Gardners - Chartered Accountants

With the Tax Self Assessment deadline looming HM Revenue and Customs are warning tax payers to be even more aware of fraudster emails – known as ‘phishing’ emails.

The emails appear to come from the HMRC website and provide a link where the recipient is asked to give their credit card or bank details in order to claim the rebate.  The website is actually a clone and the email is a scam.  Victims risk having their bank accounts emptied as well as their personal details being sold on to other organised criminal gangs. In the last three months HMRC has helped shut down 185 websites that were responsible for sending out the fake tax rebate emails. 

HMRC say they never send notifications of tax rebate via email, nor do they ask you to disclose personal information via email. 

Should you receive one of these emails report it to HMRC by emailing phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

For more online security advice from HMRC visit http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/index.htm