Be wary of scam artists this tax season
Sars will never request banking details in any communication received via post, email or SMS.
Criminals are constantly evolving the way in which they target potential victims.
During tax season 2020, taxpayers can expect to receive more fraudulent emails and SMSes claiming to be from the South African Revenue Service (Sars).
Taxpayers are randomly emailed with false or ‘spoofed’ emails made to look as if these emails were sent from Sars.
These emails are aimed at enticing unsuspecting taxpayers to part with personal information such as bank account details.
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Examples include emails that appear to be from returns@sars.co.za or refunds@sars.co.za, indicating that taxpayers are eligible to receive tax refunds.
These emails contain links to false forms and fake websites made to look like the ‘real thing’, but with the aim of fooling people into entering personal information such as bank account details which the criminals then extract and use fraudulently.
Sars will never request banking details in any communication received via post, email or SMS.
Sars will not send hyperlinks to other websites, even those of banks.
Sars taxpayers should take note of the following:
- Do not open or respond to emails from unknown sources.
- Always double-check the email address on the email.
- Beware of emails that ask for personal, tax, banking and eFiling details, including login credentials, passwords, PINs or credit and debit card information.
- Sars does not send *.htm or *.html attachments.
- Sars will never ask for your credit card details.
To stop phishing emails and SMSes send an email to phishing@sars.gov.za or call the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 00 2870.
