Potential Scam being used on Expats
Apr 25th 2005, 10:57 am
#1
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Potential Scam being used on Expats
Just spotted this on the BBC's website news section and couldn't see a posting on here so thought I'd add it:
Phoney revenue forms con ex-pats
A tax expert says the bogus form looks 'plausible'
Bogus tax forms, claiming to be from the Inland Revenue, are being sent out to unsuspecting staff working abroad in a bid to gain bank details from them.
British citizens overseas are receiving what professes to be a P86, for staff "Not Ordinarily Resident in the UK".
The taxpayer is asked to return the completed form, to Kensington House, 33, Imperial Square, Cheltenham.
But it is a "brass plate" address and the letters were being forwarded to Lagos in Nigeria.
The Inland Revenue's deputy director Shirley Davies has written to six of the UK's largest accountancy firms and several multinational companies, warning them of the scam.
In her letter, she says the logo, phone and fax numbers and address on the letterhead are all false.
'Plausible'
Mike Warburton, a Cheltenham-based tax partner with one of the accountants, Grant Thornton, visited the bogus address.
"Two ladies there were innocently forwarding the letters to Nigeria. But the letters are now being handed to the police."
He has examined a copy of one of the forms, sent to a BP employee working in Abu Dhabi and said it was very "plausible".
"A lot of people would be naturally guarded if asked for bank details, except when they get a letter from Inland Revenue.
"It's the one official body that writes to you asking for personal financial information where, as a good citizen, you would respond to it.
"That's the problem, that's why in a way the scam is so clever."
'Big accounts'
He added that the conmen may even have hired accomplices to sift through BP's rubbish to gain vital information.
"Getting hold of names and addresses is not that difficult, this sort of thing of thing would be central to their operation.
"ID fraud is so widespread. This was a PO box number, it's easy to employ someone to go through BP's refuse tips.
"It's something that can happen to anyone, not just people working abroad. They're likely to have been targeted because non-residents are likely to have a big bank account."
Phoney revenue forms con ex-pats
A tax expert says the bogus form looks 'plausible'
Bogus tax forms, claiming to be from the Inland Revenue, are being sent out to unsuspecting staff working abroad in a bid to gain bank details from them.
British citizens overseas are receiving what professes to be a P86, for staff "Not Ordinarily Resident in the UK".
The taxpayer is asked to return the completed form, to Kensington House, 33, Imperial Square, Cheltenham.
But it is a "brass plate" address and the letters were being forwarded to Lagos in Nigeria.
The Inland Revenue's deputy director Shirley Davies has written to six of the UK's largest accountancy firms and several multinational companies, warning them of the scam.
In her letter, she says the logo, phone and fax numbers and address on the letterhead are all false.
'Plausible'
Mike Warburton, a Cheltenham-based tax partner with one of the accountants, Grant Thornton, visited the bogus address.
"Two ladies there were innocently forwarding the letters to Nigeria. But the letters are now being handed to the police."
He has examined a copy of one of the forms, sent to a BP employee working in Abu Dhabi and said it was very "plausible".
"A lot of people would be naturally guarded if asked for bank details, except when they get a letter from Inland Revenue.
"It's the one official body that writes to you asking for personal financial information where, as a good citizen, you would respond to it.
"That's the problem, that's why in a way the scam is so clever."
'Big accounts'
He added that the conmen may even have hired accomplices to sift through BP's rubbish to gain vital information.
"Getting hold of names and addresses is not that difficult, this sort of thing of thing would be central to their operation.
"ID fraud is so widespread. This was a PO box number, it's easy to employ someone to go through BP's refuse tips.
"It's something that can happen to anyone, not just people working abroad. They're likely to have been targeted because non-residents are likely to have a big bank account."
Apr 25th 2005, 11:47 am
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Posts: 7,949
Re: Potential Scam being used on Expats
Originally Posted by spottydog
Just spotted this on the BBC's website news section and couldn't see a posting on here so thought I'd add it:
Phoney revenue forms con ex-pats
A tax expert says the bogus form looks 'plausible'
Bogus tax forms, claiming to be from the Inland Revenue, are being sent out to unsuspecting staff working abroad in a bid to gain bank details from them.
British citizens overseas are receiving what professes to be a P86, for staff "Not Ordinarily Resident in the UK".
The taxpayer is asked to return the completed form, to Kensington House, 33, Imperial Square, Cheltenham.
But it is a "brass plate" address and the letters were being forwarded to Lagos in Nigeria.
The Inland Revenue's deputy director Shirley Davies has written to six of the UK's largest accountancy firms and several multinational companies, warning them of the scam.
In her letter, she says the logo, phone and fax numbers and address on the letterhead are all false.
'Plausible'
Mike Warburton, a Cheltenham-based tax partner with one of the accountants, Grant Thornton, visited the bogus address.
"Two ladies there were innocently forwarding the letters to Nigeria. But the letters are now being handed to the police."
He has examined a copy of one of the forms, sent to a BP employee working in Abu Dhabi and said it was very "plausible".
"A lot of people would be naturally guarded if asked for bank details, except when they get a letter from Inland Revenue.
"It's the one official body that writes to you asking for personal financial information where, as a good citizen, you would respond to it.
"That's the problem, that's why in a way the scam is so clever."
'Big accounts'
He added that the conmen may even have hired accomplices to sift through BP's rubbish to gain vital information.
"Getting hold of names and addresses is not that difficult, this sort of thing of thing would be central to their operation.
"ID fraud is so widespread. This was a PO box number, it's easy to employ someone to go through BP's refuse tips.
"It's something that can happen to anyone, not just people working abroad. They're likely to have been targeted because non-residents are likely to have a big bank account."
Phoney revenue forms con ex-pats
A tax expert says the bogus form looks 'plausible'
Bogus tax forms, claiming to be from the Inland Revenue, are being sent out to unsuspecting staff working abroad in a bid to gain bank details from them.
British citizens overseas are receiving what professes to be a P86, for staff "Not Ordinarily Resident in the UK".
The taxpayer is asked to return the completed form, to Kensington House, 33, Imperial Square, Cheltenham.
But it is a "brass plate" address and the letters were being forwarded to Lagos in Nigeria.
The Inland Revenue's deputy director Shirley Davies has written to six of the UK's largest accountancy firms and several multinational companies, warning them of the scam.
In her letter, she says the logo, phone and fax numbers and address on the letterhead are all false.
'Plausible'
Mike Warburton, a Cheltenham-based tax partner with one of the accountants, Grant Thornton, visited the bogus address.
"Two ladies there were innocently forwarding the letters to Nigeria. But the letters are now being handed to the police."
He has examined a copy of one of the forms, sent to a BP employee working in Abu Dhabi and said it was very "plausible".
"A lot of people would be naturally guarded if asked for bank details, except when they get a letter from Inland Revenue.
"It's the one official body that writes to you asking for personal financial information where, as a good citizen, you would respond to it.
"That's the problem, that's why in a way the scam is so clever."
'Big accounts'
He added that the conmen may even have hired accomplices to sift through BP's rubbish to gain vital information.
"Getting hold of names and addresses is not that difficult, this sort of thing of thing would be central to their operation.
"ID fraud is so widespread. This was a PO box number, it's easy to employ someone to go through BP's refuse tips.
"It's something that can happen to anyone, not just people working abroad. They're likely to have been targeted because non-residents are likely to have a big bank account."
The usual rules apply - don't reply to unsolicited emails, don't give out personal information unsolicited, shred anything with your identity on it before binning, only use secure websites when e-commercing etc, etc. Identity theft is the fastest growing fraud - now that 'chip and pin' has been introduced onto plastic cards the devious have to try other ways of ripping people off.
OzTennis
Apr 25th 2005, 11:58 am
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2004
Location: Birkdale QLD
Posts: 7,642
Re: Potential Scam being used on Expats
Originally Posted by OzTennis
I just wondered whether the sifting through BP's rubbish related to BondiPom or that lesser known oil company?
The usual rules apply - don't reply to unsolicited emails, don't give out personal information unsolicited, shred anything with your identity on it before binning, only use secure websites when e-commercing etc, etc. Identity theft is the fastest growing fraud - now that 'chip and pin' has been introduced onto plastic cards the devious have to try other ways of ripping people off.
OzTennis
The usual rules apply - don't reply to unsolicited emails, don't give out personal information unsolicited, shred anything with your identity on it before binning, only use secure websites when e-commercing etc, etc. Identity theft is the fastest growing fraud - now that 'chip and pin' has been introduced onto plastic cards the devious have to try other ways of ripping people off.
OzTennis
Has anyone ever tried writing to the IR saying you don't believe they are who they say they are?
Actually it might create a new tax avoidance scheme, just keep replying to the Inland Revenue tax demands saying you think they are frauds!
Cheers,
JTL
Apr 25th 2005, 12:17 pm
#4
Born to be wild....
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Northants to Brisbane.
Posts: 5,450
Re: Potential Scam being used on Expats
Originally Posted by JackTheLad
Yes but in this case, where very plausible inland revenue letters arrive?
Has anyone ever tried writing to the IR saying you don't believe they are who they say they are?
Actually it might create a new tax avoidance scheme, just keep replying to the Inland Revenue tax demands saying you think they are frauds!
Cheers,
JTL
Has anyone ever tried writing to the IR saying you don't believe they are who they say they are?
Actually it might create a new tax avoidance scheme, just keep replying to the Inland Revenue tax demands saying you think they are frauds!
Cheers,
JTL
