Fraud warning for self-assessment taxpayers

Date: 8th July 2010

Self-assessment taxpayers in the UK could be among those to heed a recent warning about an online phishing attack.

Trusteer, a secure browsing specialist, has warned that cybercriminals could use the forthcoming deadline to file for tax credits as a means to infect users' computers.

The firm warned that as the July 31st deadline looms, tax credit filers are more likely to click on unsolicited e-mails, which have been made to look like they are from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Mickey Boodaei, Trusteer's chief executive officer, said: "Back in February we warned online banking users of phishing and malware infections stemming from emails offering Internet users a tax refund.

"And given that such phishing emails are twice as successful as bank phishing attacks, cybercriminals have realised that an email with HMRC in its message header is a lot more attractive to recipients."

The expert warned that once a cybercriminal has obtained HMRC log in details there are a number of tax and VAT-related scams that they can run against an individual.

Posted by Jacob Williams