Government warns of tax fraudsters

LONDON (Reuters) - Fraudsters are trying to trick the public into handing over personal financial details in the run-up to the annual tax self-assessment deadline, the government warned on Thursday.

Bogus emails, purporting to be from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), attempt to trick people into giving out their bank details or other private information on the pretext that they will receive a fictitious tax refund.

The authorities also warned that some people had been telephoned by fraudsters posing as tax officials trying to elicit details by claiming to arrange rebate payments.

"This is the most sophisticated and prolific phishing scam that we have encountered," said Lesley Strathie, HMRC Chief Executive.

"We only ever contact customers who are due a refund in writing by post. We never use emails, telephone calls or external companies in these circumstances."

She urged anyone who received such an email to send it to HMRC for further investigation.

Officials warned there could be further attempts to con taxpayers after the January 31 deadline has passed when many people were waiting to hear about genuine refunds.

Since April last year, HMRC said it had received more than 11,000 reports of fraudulent repayment emails.

It warned that customers who gave their details to the fraudsters could see their bank accounts emptied and huge bills run up on their credit cards.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Steve Addison)