Scam Warning - HMRC Tax Rebates

Nottinghamshire Police has asked BusinessWatch to make our members aware of an email scam which claim recipients have been awarded a tax rebate and asks for credit card and bank details. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are warning tax payers and Internet users that these emails do not originate from their offices and are asking everyone to be vigilant against this scam.

The scam takes the form of an email which informs recipients that they are due a tax rebate. The email contains a link to a cloned replica of the HMRC website. The HMRC are fully aware of this scam and are carrying out ongoing work to continue to shut down cloned websites.

Please remain vigilant when receiving emails from any source that you are unfamiliar with. It is not common practice for such organisations communicate via email with regards to updating or requesting personal information; the usual method is via letter.

If you are in doubt always check the sender information, and if you are unsure make contact with the organisation to confirm whether the email is genuine. You are advised not to submit personal details via email or the Internet unless you are sure this is a genuine site and has the necessary Internet security measures in place to protect your personal information.

For more information on Internet and Data Security contact BusinessWatch on 01246 212909 or email info@businesswatch.org