Criminals send out 'HMRC' emails

HMRC has been forced to reiterate how it contacts customers after criminals deployed a fresh batch of emails in its name, aimed at harvesting taxpayers' details for fraud.



The new variant of the 'tax rebate' scam relies on taxpayers inputting their credit card details on a form, carrying HMRC's logo and branding, that arrives in their inbox.



Although the form correctly cites the current tax period, of 2008-2009, its malicious author has paid less attention to the spelling of 'annual', which appears as 'anual'.



Accountants have joined HMRC in stressing that tax officials only ever contact taxpayers due a refund in writing by post, and would not inform them through email.



The taxman has also made clear that it never invites taxpayers to get their rebate by filling in a form online, or by a link to its website, as variants of the scam claim.



Meanwhile, it seems that taxpayers are not alone in being targeted by those hijacking HMRC's name, as advisors are being reminded how to tell if an HMRC caller is genuine.



Reference to the time of earlier correspondence, as well as the citation of the date for regular outputs of self-assessment forms are just two of the verification steps being encouraged.



HMRC has told staff that they should be prepared to verify their identity, and provide their phone number, even if it is for a contact centre where calling it back would probably not result in the same operative answering.