Scam tax rebate e-mails doing the rounds
It has come to the Revenue’s attention that there are a number of bogus e-mails currently in circulation that taxpayers need to be aware of.
Tax refunds
HMRC will never send notifications of a tax refund by e-mail or ask a person to disclose personal or payment information by e-mail. Never therefore give out this information or visit the website contained within the e-mail. A selection of scam e-mail addresses used to distribute tax rebate e-mails are as follows:
- reve.alert@hmrc.gov.uk
- services@hmrc.co.uk
- noreply@hmrevenue.com
- service@hmrc.gov.uk
- service.refund@hmrc.gov
- secure@hmrc.co.uk
- hmrc@gov.uk
- taxes@hmrc.co.uk
- taxrefund-notice@hmrc.gov.uk
- taxrefund@hmrc.gov.uk
- refund-help@hmrc.gov.uk
- service@online.com
- email@hmrc.gov.uk
- refund.alert@hmrc.gov.uk
- refunds@hmrc.gov.uk
- srvcs@hmrc.gov.uk
- alertsonline@hmrc.co.uk
- info@hmrc.gov.uk
- rebate@hmrc.gov.uk
Needless to say, HMRC does not use any of the above.
Tax return filled out incorrectly
This bogus e-mail advises a taxpayer that they have ‘made mistakes while completing the last tax form application (ID: XXXXXXXXXXX).’ The e-mail contains a link which should not be clicked as it may direct a person to a phishing site or contain malware.
Tax information newsletter, Issue: 2014/September
Identity theft is the purpose of this e-mail by requesting an individual to verify their identity by providing photographic copies of their passport, NI card, utility bill and bank statement.
PAYE – P6/P8 ‘You have received new messages from HMRC’
Leave this one alone as it contains an attachment housing a virus, even though there is the lure of tax notices within!
HMRC Employer Alerts and Registrations
This fraudulent version of a HMRC e-mail tells taxpayers that their registration details have been recorded for e-mail purposes only. The way to tell the difference between the two is that HMRC’s version never contains a zip file, particularly one which houses a virus!
Important information for employers – Employer Bulletin Issue 46
There is not Employer Bulletin (issue 46) attached to this e-mail. Yes, you’ve guessed it another zip file containing yet another virus. The genuine Employer Bulletin 46 does not contain a zip file.
Could not process Online Submission for Reference ***/EG123456
Here the employer is informed that HMRC has not been able to process their Full Payment Submission (PAYE). Delete it as it has a virus embedded in the attachment.
VAT – successful receipt of online submission
A thank you e-mail to businesses for sending a VAT return online but open the attachment and you won’t be thanking the sender. Of course, yet another virus.
Refund companies
Do not be taken in by any company who issues e-mails advertising to apply for tax/NIC rebate on your behalf, usually for a fee, as they are not connected to HMRC in any way.
It goes without saying that these message should not be responded to but instead forwarded to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then deleted. I know I’m teaching your granny to suck eggs!
SMS text messages
Should you receive a text message from HMRC asking you to contact any telephone number or reply to the SMS don’t bother. This only applies however to text messages purporting to come from HMRC and not to any messages left in person by a HMRC officer asking you to ring them back at your local office.
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