Con artists have always been around in one form or another, and so the presence of email scams is an inevitable outcome of our move to do more online. 

However, with more and more stories appearing regularly in media about victims being scammed, getting clear on what to look out for, how to detect a scam and what to do if you think you’re being scammed is as important as ever.

This month, I want to draw your attention to IRD scams.

 A lot of scammers, and these ones in particular, try to play on your emotions. Who wouldn’t want money back from the IRD?

Although receiving money back from the IRD is not unheard of, nobody likes to pay the IRD in the first place, so to be owed a refund is a bonus. Plus, in the current economic environment any money you are offered can seem worth claiming.

Apart from appealing to your emotions, the perpetrators will also appeal to your intelligence by trying to appear as legitimate as possible. The fake emails have become very sophisticated in the way they look. They may include valid links to IRD newsletters and sections of the IRD website. In the latest version, there was even a warning to “Beware of tax related scams”. This kind of level of sophistication makes it hard to distinguish between a fake and the real thing.

So, what can you do to avoid being the victim of a scam?

Care is always required when receiving an email or text message purporting to be from IRD, especially when they claim that you are due a refund.

 Firstly, don’t get too excited – instead stay calm and think through the logic of what’s on offer. If it is possible that the subject of the letter is legitimate, then start thinking about how the email is presented.

Tell-tale signs when an email (or text) is a scam include the following:

1.     Although the email address may show as being from “Inland Revenue” on closer inspection you will find it is not an accurate IRD address – e.g. it might end in .com or .net instead of .govt.nz.

2.     There may be multiple spelling errors or incorrect grammar in the email.

3.     If you hover over the links in the email (DO NOT CLICK ON THESE) you will often find the web address is not a link to the IRD website – instead it will direct you to another website.

4.     The IRD would never ask you to click on a link in a message to update your details. They would always ask you to log in to myIR though ird.govt.nz

5.     The message includes a dollar amount of the refund. IRD does not include amounts in their refund emails.

6.     The reference to the type of refund you are due may not be a valid tax type or reference.

If in doubt, it’s always best to assume the email is not legitimate. That means not clicking on any links or replying to the email. 

If you think you may actually be due a refund, check in with Nigel Smellie or log in to your MyIR on the IRD website.

Findex NZ Limited trading as Findex.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the thought or position of Findex NZ Limited.

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