The Inland Revenue (HMRC) have issued further a press release warning tax payers about possible fake or ‘phishing’ emails sent out by fraudsters, and guidance on how to spot them and what to do if you receive one.
Their briefing starts with the simple message:
Remember:
•HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will never send notifications of a tax rebate by email, or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email.
•To be completely safe from phishers, do not select links in emails. If in doubt, close your browser, reopen it, and type the web address for the site you want to visit directly into the address bar.
They have requested that you forward any suspicious emails to phishing@hmrc.gsi and then delete the email from your PC.
If however you think you may have unwittingly disclosed personal information to some one thinking they were HMRC
for example your HMRC User ID, password or National Insurance number, in reply to a suspect email please forward brief details to the email address below.
security.custcon@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Please do not disclose any of your personal details or information in the email report to HMRC. However it would help them to investigate if you would tell them the type(s) of information that you disclosed to the suspect website
If in any doubt, please contact the Team at Burgis & Bullock before taking any action on emails that may look authentic.