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Northumberland County Council Trading Standards Service is warning people to be aware of emails that appear to be from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which inform consumers that they are due a tax rebate.
HM Revenues and Customs do not send notifications of a tax rebate by email and those receiving these emails should be aware it is a scam.
The emails are similar in format to the HMRC website and request banking details from consumers.
They indicate that the consumer is due a tax rebate and the consumer is then encouraged to fill in their personal details and bank details and then press the ‘submit form’ button on the bottom of the email.
Anyone who receives such an email should delete it straight away and make sure it is deleted from their email trash can too.
Alan Kirsop, Trading Standards Manager from Northumberland County Council said: “As the emails look genuine and appear to come from a government body consumers are vulnerable to these types of scam. We advise all consumers to be wary and not to be tricked into giving personal information or bank details via email even if the request appears to come from a genuine source. Trading Standards are increasingly alarmed by scams which falsely claim to come from trusted sources such as government bodies in an attempt to get consumers to part with their hard-earned money’.
Councillor Ian Lindley, Executive Member for Community Safety said: “These types of scam are often hard to spot as they look so genuine. I would urge anyone who receives an email like this or one which they have any doubts about, to delete it straight away and get in touch with our Trading Standards Department or Consumer Direct so we can advise on what to do next.”
Consumer Direct is a Government Funded advice service and can be contacted on 08454 040506.
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