|
HM Revenue &
Customs "phishing" emails warning
A warning has been issued by HM Revenue &
Customs (HMRC) 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.
Customers have to renew their claims by 31 July 2012
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 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. Victims risk
having money stolen from their bank accounts, or their personal
details being sold on to criminal gangs for identify fraud. During
last year's tax credits renewals period, from April to July, nearly
94,000 phishing emails were reported by customers.
Even though HMRC helped shut down
more than 360 scam websites during the period, others continue to be
created. Steve Lamey, Director General for Benefits and Credits,
said:- "We only ever contact customers who are due a tax
refund in writing by post. We don't use telephone calls, emails or
external companies in these circumstances. Anyone who receives an
email claiming to be from HMRC should send it to:-
phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before deleting it permanently."
HMRC 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.
HMRC advises customers to:-
► Check the advice published at:-
hmrc.gov.uk to see if an email
received is listed.
► Forward
suspicious emails to HMRC via emailing it to:-
phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete them...
► DO NOT click on
websites or links contained in suspicious emails, nor to open
attachments.
►
Follow advice from:-
getsafeonline.co.uk If people believe that they have been
the victim of an email scam, they should report the matter to their
bank/ card issuer as soon as possible.
► Anyone in doubt should
check with HMRC the
website.
Window cleaner benefit
cheat,Thomas Kenny, jailed
A 53 year old window
cleaner from Bootle, was filmed lifting ladders despite telling the
Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) he was disabled. Thomas Kenny
was jailed for 8 months at Liverpool Crown Court after being found
guilty of a £33,000 benefit fraud. Liverpool Crown Court heard that
he had failed to notify the DWP that his circumstances had changed
and that he had made a false statement to obtain the benefits. |
 |
New tax helpline
and services for the bereaved
PEOPLE who have suffered
bereavement and who need to contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
will now find improved and streamlined processes from this month.
Because bereavement can be a very difficult time, the department has
created a dedicated telephone helpline and address box for people
who need to contact HMRC about PAYE and Self Assessment matters
relating to bereavement. Family members or personal representatives
who phone HMRC about tax and bereavement will also be able to speak
to a dedicated team of advisors. HMRC has, in addition, simplified
its guidance and letters to customers to make the process of dealing
with tax following bereavement more straightforward. After feedback
from customers and tax specialists, the main form that customers use
to finalise the tax affairs of anyone who has died, the R27, has
also been redesigned to make it easier to complete. The new form is
now available - R27 – Reclaiming tax or paying tax when someone
dies. Stephen Banyard, Acting Director General of Personal Tax,
said:- "We know that bereavement can be a very stressful and
difficult time for family members. We want to settle the estates of
customers who have died as easily and sensitively as possible. HMRC
has been working closely with the voluntary sector and customers to
improve the experience when dealing with the department after
someone has died. It is vital that we communicate sensitively with
people who have suffered bereavement. Our helpline, as well as the
other changes that we will introduce over the next 2 years, will
help us to do that."
Teenager remanded in custody over
death of Hannah Windsor
ON Saturday, 19 May 2012
the body of Hannah Windsor, 17, from Birkenhead, was found near
Bidston Hill Observatory at about 5:30pm. Hannah had been missing 3
days before her body was discovered. A post mortem found she died as
a result of multiple injuries. A Wirral teenager, Adam Lewis, 18,
has been remanded in custody accused of raping and murdering a
teenage girl and will appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, 25
May 2012. Lewis was also charged with arson after a fire at a house.
It has been widely reported that the pair were in a relationship.
Hannah's family, who reported her missing, were too devastated to
speak to the media... Emails to our
newsroom
OVER 19 May to 23 May 2012,
we have had an issue with our incoming emails. Sadly, we have had a
massive increase of targeted SPAM emails being directed to our email
accounts and as a result, some emails have been lost as a result. If
you have sent us an email over that time frame and not had a
response or found you could not send one to us, please accept our
apology. If not time sensitive, please resend. The issue is now
under investigation and we are operating again as normal. We cannot
say any more at this time. Our emails to our newsroom are now fully
working.
|
