Fraudulent Emails from HMRC

Taxpayers are reminded that the problem of fraudulent emails continues. The emails are part of a 'phishing' exercise that uses bogus e-mails and websites to trick taxpayers into supplying confidential or personal information. These emails aren’t genuine HMRC messages and should be disregarded.

The phishing emails are being sent from inside the UK and around the world. The emails often start with phrases which alert taxpayers to a refund of tax with the emails containing links to fraudulent websites.

Any email that appears to be fraudulent should not be opened before verifying the authenticity of the email.
In a recent statement HMRC’s Director General of Benefits and Credits, said:

'HMRC will never ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email. We are committed to your online security but the methods fraudsters use to obtain information are constantly changing, so you need to be alert. Anyone who receives this type of email should send it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk'