Trading Standards Warn on Inland Revenue Scam Emails

9.55.53am GMT Mon 3rd Mar 2008

Kent Trading Standards are warning users of email to be very wary of an email purporting to be from the Inland Revenue offering a tax refund. The amount offered is around £70. Please be wary of such emails. Do not click on the links and do not give away any personal data - this is a scam email, and the Inland Revenue issue no such real emails.

The text of the email is:

******

Please Note: After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of:

70 Pounds

Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 15-30 days in order to process it.

A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons. For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline.To access the form for your tax refund, click here.

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If you are suspicious of any email, report it to the business that the email purports to originate from, in this case, phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk, and your internet service provider.

Please be very wary of other styles of phishing email particularly if it claims to be from a Bank, Building Society, Paypal or Ebay.

If you require advice about your rights as a consumer please call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.