A record 83,000 scam emails offering fake tax refunds were reported to HMRC in September. The online attacks, known as 'phishing', have continued this month as reported on last week's Tax eNews, with an unprecedented 10,000 reports of the fraud made to HMRC on one day alone.
The scam email tells the recipient they are due a tax refund and then asks for bank account or credit card details. Anyone who gives these details to the fraudsters risks their bank accounts being emptied and credit cards maxed to their limit. The victim also risks having their personal details sold on to other criminal gangs. The latest version of this scam originates from various different websites, which operate for 20 minutes before changing their domain name.
HMRC has reiterated that it will only contact customers who are due a refund in writing by post. Anyone who receives such an email is encouraged not to open it, send it to HMRC for investigation at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete it from their computer."
Chartered Accountants Ireland again calls upon HMRC to ensure that its IT infrastructure is fully able to counter attempts to defraud the taxpayer before introducing mandatory electronic filing of tax returns and tax payments.