Pembrokeshire County Council warns of "HM Revenue and Customs rebate" scam (From Western Telegraph)

Pembrokeshire County Council warns of "HM Revenue and Customs rebate" scam

12:30pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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Taxpayers should not respond to any e-mail promising a repayment from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), trading standards officers at Pembrokeshire County Council have warned.

Officers have received phone calls from several members of the public who have received a scam e-mail telling the recipient they are due a tax refund.

They are then directed to an online form and instructed to provide bank or credit card details for the ‘rebate’ to be paid into.

“We have checked with HMRC and it is not a genuine email” warned the council’s trading standards manager, Nigel Watts.

He said anyone providing their details would have their accounts emptied and credit cards used to their limit. The victim also risks having their personal details sold on to other organised criminal gangs. A spokesman for HMRC said: “We would never send unsolicited e-mails asking for confidential information. We only contact customers who are due a refund in writing by post. We never use e-mails, telephone calls or external companies in these circumstances.

“Anyone receiving such an e-mail is encouraged to send it to us for investigation at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete it from their computer.”