Fraudstersare sending out high volumes of emails supposedly sent from HM Revenue &Customs (HMRC) offering tax rebates. Please be aware that although thesefraudulent emails may contain the HMRC logo and other details, they are FAKEand you should never respond to an email which asks for personalinformation. While HMRC may send you emails from time to time, HMRC wouldnever do so requesting login, bank and credit cards details.
If yoususpect you have received a fraudulent email please do not follow any linkswithin the email, disclose any details or respond to it.
Forwardit to HMRC at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk. HMRC cannot reply on each emailthey receive, but the information will be used to help reduce online fraud.
Points to look for
HMRC wantto make sure you can recognise a fraudulent email if you receive one, so HMRC havecompiled this list of key points to look out for.
Your name - fraudulent emails are not normally addressed to you personally, they can be missing addressee details or contain something vague such as 'Dear valued customer'.
The sender - HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) was formed on the 18 April 2005 following the merger of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise departments. Those former departmental names no longer exist. Recent fraud attempts have used the following fake departmental names.
Embedded links - the email may include a link that you are asked to follow to take you to a website. Following the link takes you to a site that may look genuine, but it is most probably a fake. In the email, if you hover your mouse pointer over the link it will show the real address you will be directed to.
