Thousands of people using the HM Revenue & Customs’ self-assessment system are being sent fraudulent emails telling them they are entitled to tax rebates worth hundreds of pounds each.

The messages contain a link to what looks like the Revenue’s website where victims are asked to log in and provide their bank details for the refund.

However, the website is a fake and the conmen aim to use the information received to withdraw cash from their victims’ accounts.

“It is important recipients do not respond,” a Revenue spokesman warned. “We take the abuse of our website very seriously and notify the police when we become aware of any scams.”

This type of fraud — known as phishing — normally targets online bank customers with messages saying that, due to security concerns, they should log on to their bank accounts. These emails also contain links to fake websites set up by the criminals themselves.

The Revenue & Customs website has information about what to do if you receive one of these emails and asks taxpayers to forward messages they believe to be fraudulent to the Revenue at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.

See www.hmrc.gov.uk/security for more details.