A new phishing scam has been brought to the attention of the South African Revenue Service. The scam involves electronic-mails purportedly from SARS sent to unsuspecting taxpayers informing them that they are due for a refund. To claim the refund the users are directed to a fictitious website, which has been designed to look like the SARS website.
A message then tells users that "24 hour refund can be made to the listed banks", with logos of FNB, Absa, Standard Bank and Nedbank posted on the page. Users are requested to click on the link of their bank and supply their banking details.
SARS would like to remind taxpayers that they should never divulge personal and banking details to anyone over the telephone, e-mail, fax or internet without establishing the true identity of the recipient.
If a refund is due to a taxpayer SARS automatically pays the refund into the taxpayer's account, provided that the details are correct. If banking details are not correct the taxpayer must visit a SARS branch office with supporting documents to correct the bank account details.
The SARS anti–corruption and fraud hotline is 0800 002 870.
Issued by: South African Revenue Service
21 October 2009
Source: South African Revenue Service (http://www.sars.gov.za)
