Tax Refund

Don't fall for this one!

The scams are getting more elaborate!

I received an e-mail today headed "Tax Refund Number 2009HMRC827141476XZ/925"

Opening it up I was told that after the last annual calculation of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of 284.23 GBP. 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,
Greg Stephen
Tax Credit Office Agent
Preston
PR1 0SB
Telephone: 0845 300 xxxx
Opening hours:
8.00 am to 8.00 pm, seven days a week

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However, despite the "from" box on my e-mail header saying "From: HM Revenue & Customs" the actual e-mail address was < tax-credits-office@hmrc.co.uk > and I suspect it should really have been a .gov.uk address if it was genuine!

The 0845 number connects you to an automated voice service that sounds very good. However why do the Tax people need to know my mother's maiden name, and the three digit code on the back of my credit card? If they want to refund me money it would (theoretically) come through the on-line account that they use to take money off me on a regular basis.

Don't fall for this one!