Fraud warning on tax credit date

Fraudsters often seize on topical subjects for scams

A wave of bogus e-mails is targeting people aiming to meet Friday's tax credit renewal deadline, according to credit reference agency Equifax.

The emails offer tax refunds in return for credit card or bank details, the agency warns.

Householders should be aware that organisations such as HM Revenue and Customs do not ask for such details via e-mail or the telephone.

The deadline for providing information about income to HMRC is 31 July.

Timing

The tax credits system was introduced in 2003, but has been dogged by problems with overpayments.

They ask for credit card or bank details and if you gave those you could find yourself very quickly a victim of ID fraud Neil Munroe, Equifax Dealing with tax credits renewal

Many people have been sorting out their tax credits, having received renewal packs through the post in recent weeks.

Neil Munroe, external affairs director at Equifax, said "cynical timing" by fraudsters meant they were sending out e-mails offering relief from tax bills.

"If you were worried about money and then got the e-mail you might think all your prayers had been answered," he said.

"They ask for credit card or bank details and if you gave those you could find yourself very quickly a victim of ID fraud. However, generally a person would be alerted to a tax refund at the end of the financial year."

He urged people to double-check with the tax authority if they were unsure about any documentation they had received.

Other tips to prevent becoming a victim of this or similar frauds include installing virus protection software on computers, having a range of passwords, and destroying the hard drive on old computers.