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Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Press Release

12th November 2009

Comhairle Warn Of Bogus Email Scam

Trading Standards Officers at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have receieved several complaints about an e mail purporting to be from HM Revenue and Customs stating that people are entitled to tax refunds. The e mail is a scam and the link takes you to a reported phishing site.  HMRC have issued the following advice to look out for if you suspect that an email may be fraudulent:

• Disclosing personal information - HMRC will never ask you to disclose personal information such as your PIN or your passwords, or your bank details. Never disclose this information to anyone.
• The padlock - when you log in to HMRC Online Services you are always in a 'secure session' - which is shown by the padlock or an unbroken key in the bottom right hand corner of your web browser. The beginning of HMRC's address will change from 'http' to 'https' when a secure connection is made.
• Your name - fraudulent emails are not normally addressed to you personally; they can have missing addressee details or contain something vague such as 'Dear valued customer'.
• The sender - HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) was formed on the 18 April 2005 following the merger of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise departments. Those former departmental names no longer exist. Recent fraud attempts have used fake departmental names, and purporting to be sent from HMRC Board Members.
• Links within the email - the email may include a link that you are asked to follow to take you to a website. Following the link takes you to a site that may look genuine, but it is most probably a fake. Always access the HMRC website by typing HMRC's address in the address bar of your web browser.

For more information contact Marina MacSween, Consumer Protection Officer at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar on 01851 70 9577.

Ag Obair Còmhla Airson Nan Eilean - Working Together For The Western Isles

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Sandwick Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2BW.
Tel: 0845 6007090 Fax: 01851 705349 e-mail: enquiries@cne-siar.gov.uk
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