Beware new tax return phishing scam

A news story on the Small Business Centre this morning has flagged a new scam targetting those who haven't yet filed their tax returns (end of this month btw).

Self employed people and small business owners have been warned of a new phishing scam targeted at individuals who file their own tax returns. Thousands of rogue emails requesting bank details have been sent out in the run up to the January 31st Self Assessment tax deadline, according to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Fraudsters tell the targeted mail recipients that they are due a tax refund and ask for card details to be supplied in order that it can be paid. Apparently tax payers are only ever contacted by post in such circumstances.

Read the story in full here: https://www.microsoft.com/uk/smallbusiness/sbnews/it-security/HMRC-warns-of-new-phishing-scam-18963662.mspx

If you don't yet have any anti-phishing software installed on your PC take a look at Windows Live OneCare, which helps protect and maintain your computer with antivirus, firewall, antispyware, anti-phishing, PC performance tune-ups, and file backup and restore functionality.

Book of the month for January is Look Both Ways: Help Protect Your Family on the Internet on offer at just £5.49, so it may well be worth investing in this too - if not for you personally then perhaps for any teenagers in the house who may be less security-minded.