A WARNING has been issued to tax credit recipients in Lincolnshire about possible fake or “phishing” emails sent out by fraudsters.
The period in the run-up to the tax credits renewal deadline often sees an increase in such attacks.
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Customers who have to renew their claims by July 31 or their payments may stop.
The phishing emails often promise a rebate and, if taxpayers click on the link, they are taken to a cloned replica of the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) website.
The recipient is asked to provide credit or debit card details or other sensitive information such as passwords.
Fraudsters then try to take money from the account while victims also risk having money their personal details being sold on to criminal gangs for identify fraud.
Steve Lamey from HMRC said: “Anyone who receives an email claiming to be from HMRC should send it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before deleting it permanently.”
HMRC says it works with other law enforcement agencies in the UK and overseas to investigate and shut down phishing attacks.
Scam networks have been closed in a number of countries, including Austria, Mexico, the UK, South Korea, the USA, Thailand and Japan.
If people believe that they have been the victim of an email scam, they should report the matter to their bank.
Anyone in doubt should check with HMRC at www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/fraud-attempts.htm