Outline:
Email purporting to be from the UK’s HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) claims that, after a new tax calculation, you are now due a tax refund of 221.17 GBP. It urges you to click a link to submit a tax refund request.
Analysis:
The email is not from HMRC and the supposed tax refund it describes does not exist.
The link opens a fake HMRC website that asks you to provide your credit card numbers, your name and contact details, and other identifying personal information. The information you submit on the fake website can later be collected by criminals and used to commit credit card fraud and identity theft.
There are many versions of these tax refund scam messages that target taxpayers, not only in the UK, but in other countries as well.
The following Hoax-Slayer YouTube Channel video provides more information about such tax refund scams:
The UK Government website includes information about how to recognise and report HMRC phishing scam messages.
Last updated: October 31, 2016
First published: October 31, 2016
By Brett M. Christensen
About Hoax-Slayer
References
Dealing with HMRC Phishing and scams
‘Claim Your Tax Refund Online’ Phishing Email
HMRC ‘You Are Eligible To Receive A Tax Refund’ Phishing Scam
HM Revenue & Customs Tax Refund Phishing Scam
Original Source : https://www.hoax-slayer.net/hm-revenue-customs-new-tax-calculation-phishing-scam-email/