Beware of the following scam

July 14, 2009 · Posted in Scam, security  · Posted by IIA

An IIA Member has drawn our attention to the following scam. It is also being discussed on Boards.ie. As Maiken from CCD points out:

1. Revenue do not correspond by email, only in writing.

2. Revenue will ALWAYS quote your PPS number to you.

3. Revenue will never look for credit card details.

4. Revenue letterheads will always be used.

The test of the email is as follows:

From: Irish Tax & Customs [mailto:service@revenue.ie]
Sent: 13 July 2009 09:52
Subject: Tax Refund Number 2009IE291771TAX48/190

ATTN: Dear Applicant,

2009 - Recalculation Tax Refund
After the last annual calculation of your fiscal activity we have determined
that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of 284.23 EURO Your TRN (TAX
REFUND NUMBER): 2 7 9 0 2 1 6 8 1 5, please fill the payment form attached
in the email.

Please submit the tax refund and allow us 3-9 business days in order to
process it.

Note: For security reasons, we recommend that you close your browser after
you have finished accessing your refund status.

- For security reasons, we will record your ip-address and date.
- Deliberate wrong inputs are criminally pursued and indicted.

Best Regards,
George Thompson
Tax Credit Office Agent
info@revenue.ie
Telephone: 0845 300 3900
Opening hours:
8.00 am to 8.00 pm, seven days a week

However this scam is particularly convincing and includes an attachment entitled “form_payment.pdf.htm” which opens the following:

Click here to see a larger version of this file

This form also includes the same ominous warnings about false information leading to criminal indictment as if getting an email from the Revenue Commissioners offering to refund you money wasn’t enough of a shock :)

The Revenue Commissioners have posted a warning and recommend that you delete the email and if you did go so far as to include details, you should contact your bank immediately to take steps to protect your account from the scammers.

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Comments

One Response to “Beware of the following scam”

  1. Donagh mc Sweeney on July 22nd, 2009 12:13 pm

    Thanks for the heads up. Hadn’t heard about this one. I think most people are wish to these scams now, but there’s always one or two that fall victim.

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