HMRC Phishing Emails – the email addresses to avoid

Posted By: on 4th February 2015

HMRC is warning people not to be caught out by bogus emails pretending to offer customers a tax rebate after seeing a surge of almost 50pc in consumers reporting being targeted by these “phishing” scams.

Emails sent as part of the scam often begin with a sentence such as: “We have reviewed your tax return; according to our calculations of your last year’s accounts a tax refund of (an amount of money) is due.”

HMRC will never send notifications of a tax rebate / refund by email, or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email. Do not visit the website contained within the email, download attachments, click on any links in the emails or disclose any personal or payment information.

 

Email scam address examples

A selection of scam email addresses used to distribute the tax rebate emails can be seen below:

• reve.alert@hmrc.gov.uk

• services@hmrc.co.uk

• noreply@hmrevenue.com

• service@hmrc.gov.uk

• service.refund@hmrc.gov

• secure@hmrc.co.uk

• hmrc@gov.uk

• taxes@hmrc.co.uk

• taxrefund-notice@hmrc.gov.uk

• taxrefund@hmrc.gov.uk

• refund-help@hmrc.gov.uk

• service@online.com

• email@hmrc.gov.uk

• refund.alert@hmrc.gov.uk

• refunds@hmrc.gov.uk

• srvcs@hmrc.gov.uk

• alertsonline@hmrc.co.uk

• info@hmrc.gov.uk

• rebate@hmrc.gov.uk

 

HMRC does not use any of the above email addresses.

 

What to do if you receive a phishing email

Forward any suspicious emails to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk or check HMRC’s guidance on recognising scams if you’re not sure.