Tax credits claimants are being warned about
scam or “phishing” emails sent out by fraudsters in the run-up to
the 31 July renewal deadline.
During last year’s tax credits renewal
period, which runs from April to July, nearly 24,839 phishing emails were
reported to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). And May this year has already seen a
131.32 per cent increase in phishing email reports on the same month last year,
with 11,219 being recorded.
Although HMRC worked with other agencies to
shut down 611 scam websites during the tax credits renewal period last year,
others continue to be created.
HMRC took action to close down 1,740 illegal sites
in 2013, most originating in Turkey, Spain and Bulgaria. Phishing emails also
came from the UK andUSA.
Phishing emails often promise money back and, if the
recipient clicks on a link, they are taken to a fake replica of
the HMRC website. They are then asked to provide credit or debit card
details or other sensitive information such as passwords. The fraudsters then
try to take money from their account.
They often ask for the recipient’s name, address,
date of birth, bank account number, sort code, credit card details, national
insurance number, passwords and mother’s maiden name.
In
addition to money being stolen from victims’ bank accounts, their
personal details can be sold to criminal gangs, leading to possible identify
theft.
Nick Lodge, Director General of Benefits and
Credits, HMRC, said:
HMRC will never ask people to disclose personal or
payment information by email. We are committed to claimants’ online
security but the methods fraudsters use to get information are constantly
changing, so people need to be alert.
HMRC is asking people to be wary of e-mails with
attachments which might contain viruses designed to steal personal or financial
information, and not to open them.
One
scam is contained in an email circulated from taxreturn@hmrc.gov.uk telling
recipients about a 2013 tax refund report. The email appears to have been
issued by “Tax Credit Office Preston”, but it is a scam. It
includes an attachment that contains a virus. Recipients are urged not to
respond and to delete it immediately.
HMRC asks people to:
Check http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/advice.htm for its online
security advice
- Forward suspicious emails to HMRC at
phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete them
- Avoid clicking on websites or links in suspicious
emails, or opening attachments
- Further advice can also be found athttps://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/tax-credits.
This year, as well as being able to renew by post and by
phone, tax credits claimants with no changes to report might be able to renew
online using the official GOV.UK website or via an HMRC mobile
app.