Tax refund

[denis567]

Just had an email from the Inland Revenue stating that I am due to a tax refund of almost £1000.
I am unwilling, at this stage, to click on the link to request this refund, as I have been retired for nearly 3 years and I am not convinced this is genuine.
Could anyone advise me of the best action, as I thought this would be done by post and not email.
Regards
Denis

[Pea Pod]

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/examples.htm

[denis567]

Thank you Pea Pod and EDDIE51.
It looks as though I was right in being a bit wary, it certainly looks like a scam.
I get loads from banks saying I have a message, but in most cases, I don't even have an account with them. Just shows you cannot be too careful!!

[boxtops]

I get these from time to time, fortunately I have a good spam filter. I forward them without opening to : [email protected] - the IR do come back to from time to time to confirm that they are phishing emails, not from them. Don't be fooled, they look genuine but aren't! Likewise, the banks have a phishing or spam email address, and they ask for these to be reported to them so they can investigate. Get 'em all the time, usually in batches - dead giveaway if you don't have any account with that bank!

[factor-fiction]

It is 99.99% certain to be a scam. If it doesn't even have your name on ('dear taxpayer' etc) then it's 100% certain it's a scam.

[dzug]

<<It is 99.99% certain to be a scam>>

No it isn't. It is 100% certain.

[factor-fiction]

You may be right dzug. What I was saying is that If, and only if, it has your name and correct personal details (NI number) on then isn't there a possibility, however slight (1 in 10000?), that it may be genuine provided the recipient had asked to be contacted by email. However even in those circumstances I then ring HMRC rather than click on the link

[denis567]

Thanks everybody again. Advice taken. Email deleted without clicking the link.
Notified Inland Revenue.

[No_Likey]

i prefer winding these people up....say thats great news....can you have a cheque...and just wind them up that way....its fun...

[factor-fiction]

no_likey, it is tempting to play along but of course by responding in any way you may be open to viruses and will probably find your email address is passed onto other scammers as a live email address an a potentially gullible victim

[hev]

Please do not reply to any of these type of emails HMRC never send emails of this nature. Refunds are either completed automatically which can be quite a long time after the year the overpayment has occurred or if the customer asks for a refund. We have seen several instances of these emails brought in by customers to our offices they are a 100% scam just to get your details.

[Mctavish]

I have just received a tax refund from the Inland Revenue and it came in an official letter informing me it would be paid directly into my bank. This is certainly a scam.