Increase in tax rebate phishing emails

Taxpayers should not respond to any email promising a tax repayment, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned.

Fraudsters have been sending out thousands of such 'phishing' emails in the run up to the January 31 tax deadline.

The email tells the recipient they are due a tax refund and directs them to an online form to provide bank or credit card details for the 'rebate' to be paid into. Anyone providing their details could 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.

HMRC also warned of a massive upsurge in the phishing emails immediately following the January 31 deadline when many people will be waiting to hear about genuine tax refunds.

HMRC said: "We only ever contact customers who are due a refund in writing by post. We never use emails, telephone calls or external companies in these circumstances. We strongly urge anyone receiving such an email to send it to us for investigation before deleting it."