Member Article

Liverpool accountant issues scam tax rebate warning

One of the city’s leading tax investigations specialists has issued a warning regarding scam tax rebate emails.

Des Veney, Director of Haines Watts Chartered Accountants on Victoria Street is urging people not to fall victim of the online con.

He said: “Many people are being sent bogus emails that are pretending to offer them a tax rebate from HMRC. They typically begin with an opening sentence such as ‘we have reviewed your tax return; according to our calculations of your last year’s accounts a tax refund of £X is due’.

“These counterfeit emails are a phishing scam that is designed to get hold of people’s bank details to either clear out their account or sell on their financial information to overseas fraud gangs. Although the emails are cleverly disguised, making them look legitimate, the bottom line is that HMRC never send out emails about refunds or financial matters – they are always hardcopy P800 forms that are sent out via post.”

According to HM Revenue and Customs, almost 25,000 phishing emails were reported within the three months leading up to the online self-assessment deadline on January 31, which shows an alarming 47% increase during the same period in 2013.

In hopes of combating the fraudsters, a specialist team of HMRC online investigators have currently shut down 178 phishing websites. Around 1,500 sites were closed by the revenue body in 2013, ranging from locations such as United States, Russia and China.

Des added: “The HMRC is working alongside law enforcement agencies around the world to ensure that taxpayers stay safe online. People who receive any bogus emails are asked to forward it onto phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk, in order for investigators to track down its geographical location and shut down the sham website.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Stephanie Wynne .