Thousands of taxpayers reported phishing to the Revenue recently. Well done to them for being wise to the dodginess of emails promising non-existent tax refunds.
Online fraud nowadays is a lot more sophisticated than it was in the halcyon times of fictional Nigerian princes on their uppers: a reader needs a keen eye to spot the subtle clues that betray a scam message.
Here as an illustration is such an e-alert, found last night in yours truly’s junk folder. It’s 100% real, and nothing, not even a single space, has been edited.
Dear Applicant,
Following an upgrade of our computer systems and review of our records we have investigated your
payments and latest tax returns over the last seven years
our calculations show you have made over payments of GBP 281.95
Due to the high volume of refunds due you must complete the online application, the telephone help line
is unable to assist with this application.
In order to process your refund you will need to complete the attached application form.
Your refund may take up to 3 weeks to process please make sure you complete the form correctly.
To access your tax refund, please follow the steps below:
- download the Tax Refund Form attached to this email
- open it in a browser
- follow the instructions on your screen
Regards,
HM Revenue & Customs