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HMRC tax credit phishing emails

HM Revenue and Customs are warning tax claimants about phishing emails sent out by fraudsters in the run-up to the renewal deadline.

Phishing emails

The warning comes as HMRC has launched an advertising campaign to remind claimants to renew their tax credits or their payments might stop on the deadline of 31st July 2013.

Over 22,000 phishing emails were reported to HMRC during the tax credit renewals period from April to July last year. Over 147 scam websites were shut down in countries all over the world but new ones are continuously created by fraudsters.

Phishing emails often promise money back. They include a link, which actually diverts the user to a fake HMRC website. From here, fraudsters gather personal information to try and steal money from the victim's account.

HMRC will never ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email.

For further information visit the HMRC website.

Please note that Action Fraud is not responsible for the content of external websites.

To report a fraud and receive a police crime reference number, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use our online fraud reporting tool.

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