UK taxpayers targeted by fake emails
Scam emails attempt to harvest credit card details
Fake emails claim to be from HMRC
Internet security firm Websense is warning that UK tax payers have been hit a
fake email claiming to be from HM Revenue & Customs.
The so called ‘phishing’ attack attempts recover credit card details from
tax payers, according to our sister website vnunet.com.
The Fake emails promise the recipient a tax refund and directs them to the
HMRC web site via a link. However, the link leads to a very convincing fake web
site hosted in Denmark.
‘Over the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined
that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of £99.23,’ the email reads.
‘Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 3-6 days in order to
process it.’
Users are directed to the web site and asked for their name and address and
credit card details so that the refund can be deposited, but instead these
details are harvested by the scammers.
The company says HMRC has been informed of the scam and that Websense is
blocking the site for its customers.
The site is expected to cause confusion, since UK online tax returns are due
by the end of January.