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Almost 51,000 phishing emails were reported to HMRC around 2014’s tax credit season – April to July – marking a 100% rise in the number for the same period the year before, official figures show.
The scam messages frequently offered a refund from a “tax credit office agent”, or included a link to a fake version of the GOV.UK website.
Recipients were often asked to provide bank details or similarly sensitive information. Fraudsters then tried to take money from their victims’ account, or sell the people’s identities to fellow criminals.
Almost 51,000 phishing emails were reported to HMRC around 2014’s tax credit season – April to July – marking a 100% rise in the number for the same period the year before, official figures show.
The scam messages frequently offered a refund from a “tax credit office agent”, or included a link to a fake version of the GOV.UK website.
Recipients were often asked to provide bank details or similarly sensitive information. Fraudsters then tried to take money from their victims’ account, or sell the people’s identities to fellow criminals.
The Revenue worked with other government agencies to shut down 8,877 counterfeit sites last year, a 500% increase on 2013’s figure.
HMRC’s director general of benefits and credits, Nick Lodge, HMRC, said the department never asks people to disclose personal information by email.
“We have cracked down… but fraudsters’ methods are constantly changing, so people must remain vigilant,” he added.
