Have you received an email from the IRD? It could be a scam
Inland Revenue is warning of several scams circulating this tax season. Inland Revenue revealed earlier this month that there is about $183 million of tax refunds sitting unclaimed – enough to fly first class from Auckland to London and back more than 11,000 times.
Since then the IRD has been alerted to a scam email that asks users to enter their personal details to claim their tax refund. The email has the subject line, "IR3 individual income tax return 2016".
It's important to remember the IRD will not:
- Advise you that you are due a tax refund through email
- Send an email with a link to a webpage which asks you submit personal details
- Ask for credit card details or bank account numbers over the phone in order to process a monetary payment
- Ask you to pay a tax debt using gift cards or vouchers
- Sent you an email that does not include or ask for your IRD number
If you receive a suspicious email, SMS scam message or a fraudulent call please email phishing@ird.govt.nz or call them on 0800 227 774 (make sure you have your IRD number).
Log on to the Inland Revenue's website, register for myIR and use its calculator to work out whether you are owed money or have tax to pay.
Poll: Have you had a pen pal?
With the invention of the internet and mobile phone communication, pen pals seem to be a thing of the past but it was a common practice at one point.
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Latest scams to look out for 👀
Neighbourly hopes to keep you safe by keeping you informed of the latest scams circulating. This week, we are sharing two common text message scams:
NZTA / Waka Kotahi scam:
- The scam is a text message saying it's from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and it encourages the recipient to pay an overdue road toll by visiting a fake website, threatening to take the matter to court within 15 days if they don’t pay up.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- While it is not the first time toll payments have been utilised by scammers, the threat of court action could see more people fall victim.
- The sender will either be a unknown phone number or unknown email address.
Want to report one of these scams? Do so, on Netsafe
NZ Post scam:
- This scam arrives by test message and says it's from NZ Post.
- The premise is that delivery of your parcel was unsuccessful so in order to rearrange delivery. you must click on a link to give your correct address.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- NZ Post advises people not to click the link, but to report the message to the Department of Internal Affairs by forwarding it to 7726.
Think you may have fallen prey to a scam? Get in touch with Netsafe or contact your bank if it involved your bank details.
Remember, if you didn't expect the message and you are now asked to share personal details or money, then stop contact and seek advice elsewhere.
Feel free to share any below that you've encountered recently. This may help others across the country be aware.
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