Fraudulent emails from 'HMRC'

HMRC have issued a warning that a significant number of fraudulent emails are still being sent to taxpayers. The emails take advantage of the upcoming 31 January 2012 deadline for submitting self-assessment returns. The emails target taxpayers who may be expecting a refund of tax from HMRC and provides a link to a clone of HMRC's website where the recipient is asked to give their credit card or bank details.  These are not genuine HMRC messages and should be disregarded.  It is a 'phishing' exercise that uses bogus e-mails and websites to trick taxpayers into supplying confidential or personal information. The emails are being sent from inside the UK and around the world. In a recent press release HMRC confirmed that they only contact taxpayers, who are due a tax refund, in writing by post and currently don't use telephone calls, emails or external companies in these circumstances.