Email tax scam

It involves an official-looking email which informs people they’re being offered a tax refund.

However, HMRC, whose logo and email extension have been used in the scam, pointed out they would only ever contact a taxpayer about a refund by post.

They said such hoax emails are common around January 31, the closing date for tax returns.

One Lurgan man who received an email telling him he was due a tax refund of 314.79 said: “I get loads of hoax emails, most of them end up filtered into my junk mail. This one caught my eye as it was particularly well done. No spelling mistakes and very professional in its appearance.

“Ironically, the other item in my junk mail box was an email from the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance Government of India telling me I was owed a tax refund of 820.50 rupees.”