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Tax credits fraud warning issued by HMRC | Tax credits fraud warning issued by HMRC |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The number of e-mails from fraudsters trying to take advantage of the tax credits deadline has surged, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). | The number of e-mails from fraudsters trying to take advantage of the tax credits deadline has surged, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). |
The deadline for people to submit their tax credit renewal forms is on 31 July, prompting the latest attempt by fraudsters to gather bank details. | The deadline for people to submit their tax credit renewal forms is on 31 July, prompting the latest attempt by fraudsters to gather bank details. |
An e-mail is sent suggesting people are due a refund before directing them to a clone of the official HMRC website. | An e-mail is sent suggesting people are due a refund before directing them to a clone of the official HMRC website. |
Victims are then instructed to enter their debit or credit card details. | |
The fraudsters can then empty these accounts of funds, before selling on personal details to other criminals. | The fraudsters can then empty these accounts of funds, before selling on personal details to other criminals. |
More than 46,000 of these e-mails have been reported to HMRC since the first tax credit renewal forms were sent out at the beginning of April. | More than 46,000 of these e-mails have been reported to HMRC since the first tax credit renewal forms were sent out at the beginning of April. |
Some 150 scam websites have been shut down during the same period. | Some 150 scam websites have been shut down during the same period. |
"We currently only ever contact customers who are due a tax refund in writing by post. We do not use telephone calls, e-mails or external companies in these circumstances," said Joan Wood, director of HMRC online and digital. | "We currently only ever contact customers who are due a tax refund in writing by post. We do not use telephone calls, e-mails or external companies in these circumstances," said Joan Wood, director of HMRC online and digital. |
People are advised not to open any suspicious e-mails, but to forward them on to HMRC before deleting them. | People are advised not to open any suspicious e-mails, but to forward them on to HMRC before deleting them. |
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