Tax refund scam risk

Fraudsters pretending to be HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

Be aware that as January's self-assessment deadline approaches that frausters are sending out 'phishing emails' offering tax refunds.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has this year re-iterated that it doesn't send out details regarding tax rebates by email and only uses the post.

Why would you get caught out?

The scam emails are extremely sophisticated and even replicate the Revenue's web address e.g.tax.refund@hmrc.co.uk. They encourage you to pass on your bank details and push you through to a cloned Revenue website. The danger is that once a fraudster has your bank details you risk having money stolen from bank accounts or personal details being used for identity fraud.

If you require more information, HM Revenue & Customs has a security page that details known frauds http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/examples.htm

Taxback.co.uk recommend that if you want to find out if you are due a tax refund use our tax refund calculator and check that like us , your tax agent is a member of the Association of Tax Agents.