{"id":681,"date":"2020-04-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/fake-hmrc-emails-try-to-cash-in-on-coronavirus\/"},"modified":"2020-04-14T11:29:53","modified_gmt":"2020-04-14T11:29:53","slug":"fake-hmrc-emails-try-to-cash-in-on-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/fake-hmrc-emails-try-to-cash-in-on-coronavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"Fake HMRC emails try to cash in on Coronavirus!"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
\n

A crisis brings out the best and the worst in human nature. Scammers are seeking to defraud UK taxpayers by sending emails purporting to be from HMRC \u2013 phishing.
\n\u00a0
\nPhishing is a cyber attack that uses disguised email as a weapon. The goal is to trick the email recipient into believing that the message is something they want or need \u2014 such as a\u00a0 Coronavirus support payment\u2014 and to click a link or download an attachment.
\n\u00a0
\nWhat really distinguishes phishing is the form the message takes: the attackers masquerade as a trusted entity of some kind, such as HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
\n\u00a0
\nA key feature of phishing scams is that they will ask you to provide personal or financial details (such as credit card or bank details) in order to, for example, receive a tax refund.\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nHMRC stress that they will never use texts or emails to:<\/p>\n

\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Inform you of a tax rebate or penalty, or
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Ask for personal or payment information
\n\u00a0
\nGeneral pointers which might indicate that a communication is fraudulent include:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Spelling mistakes and poor grammar.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Incorrect from addresses: these may be similar to, but not the same as, legitimate HMRC email\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0addresses.\u00a0
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Wording which unduly stresses that urgent action is required.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Links to bogus websites: these may look very similar to the HMRC website but often contain links to\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0other websites or requests to input large amounts of personal\u00a0information.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The use of a generic greeting such as Dear Customer.
\n\u00a0
\nGenuine HMRC emails will:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Address you using the name you\u2019ve provided to HMRC (usually when signing up for HMRC online\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0services).
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Always include information on how to reporting phishing emails.
\n\u2022\u00a0 \u00a0 Never give a non-HMRC personal email address to reply to.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 Never ask for specific figures or calculations, or have attachments, unless you have given prior\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 consent and formally accepted the risks.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Never provide a link to a log-in page or a form asking for information: instead you will be asked to log\u00a0into your online account through the normal channels.
\n\u00a0
\nHMRC publish up to date lists of genuine topical HMRC calls, letters and digital communications which can be referred to if you are in doubt.
\n\u00a0
\nHMRC publish examples of known phishing emails and bogus contact and how to spot them.\u00a0
\nCurrent examples include:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Tax refund \/ rebate scams: emails or texts which say that you are eligible for a tax refund and ask\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 you\u00a0to click through to a website and\/or provide personal and financial information.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Create a Government Gateway account scams: bogus emails which inform individuals they need to\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 create a gateway account to receive a tax refund.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Social media scams: direct messages to taxpayers via social media, for example a Twitter scam\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 offering a tax refund.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Export clearance process (delivery stop order) emails: Emails which claim goods have been withheld\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0by customs and requiring a payment before release (known as 419 scams).
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Bogus callers: Telephone calls or home visits from people claiming to be from HMRC who encourage\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0individuals to provide bank account or other personal information\u00a0in\u00a0exchange for tax advice or a\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0refund.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Recorded telephone messages threatening legal action: a widely reported scam particularly targeting\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0old people where a recorded message is left stating that HMRC are\u00a0\u00a0bringing a lawsuit and are going\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0to sue the taxpayer. \u00a0The recipient is asked to phone a number and select \u20181\u2019 to speak to the officer\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0dealing with their case.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Request to complete NRL1 forms and return by fax: scams which target letting agents and landlords\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0living abroad who are asked to complete a non-resident landlord form including a considerable\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0amount of personal information.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nIf you are at all in doubt that a message is genuine:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Don\u2019t open it;
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0If you do open it, don\u2019t click on any links, open any attachments or provide any information
\n\u00a0
\nSuspicious emails and texts should be deleted, but HMRC also encourage taxpayers to report them:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Forward suspicious text messages purporting to be from HMRC to 60599 (charges apply).
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Forward suspicious emails to HMRC\u2019s phishing team: phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Contact HMRC\u2019s security team (security.custcon@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk<\/a>) if you have given personal\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0information in relation to a suspicious email or text.
\n\u00a0
\nSRC-Time is one of the South East\u2019s leading firms in advising businesses and individuals. We can be contacted on 01273 326 556 \u00a0or you can drop us an email at info@src-time.co.uk<\/a> . Alternatively, you can speak with an account manager to get expert help.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here at SRC-Time, we will endeavour to keep you updated with all the latest information regarding financial aid at this testing time. Please note that the Government makes fresh announcements every day so please ensure that you have the latest information.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

SRC-Time Ltd
\n2nd Floor
\nStanford Gate
\nSouth Road
\nBrighton
\nBN1 6SB<\/span><\/p>\n

T: +44 (0) 1273 326 556<\/a>
\nF: +44 (0) 1273 733 827
\nE: info@src-time.co.uk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A crisis brings out the best and the worst in human nature. Scammers are seeking to defraud UK taxpayers by sending emails purporting to be from HMRC \u2013 phishing. \u00a0 Phishing is a cyber attack that uses disguised email as a weapon. The goal is to trick the email recipient into believing that the message […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":682,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[19,21,18,22],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/681"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=681"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/681\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/srcadvisory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}