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High alert on tax scam

Fin24 has been inundated with responses from users who have received fake emails from scamsters pretending to be from the South African Revenue Service (Sars).

Sars on Wednesday warned people not to react to any emails promising a refund on their tax returns. According to Sars spokesperson Adrian Lackay, taxpayers must ignore these fake notifications.

“On our Sars website - Sars.gov.za - we have put up examples of these fake notifications. First obtain verification from the Sars call centre or a branch, for instance. Never give out any details in response to these fake communications,” said Lackay.

Fin24 user Happiness, who has received fake notifications, writes:


I have been scammed for the second time now, but I immediately thought it was a scam as the first time I had not submitted any returns.

The second time I had already returned my tax and the email said that R4 500 had been put in my Sars account as deposit and I needed to follow a link to confirm my details; the link returned an error.

I realised was a scam because I already knew my return amount although I had made a correction on my return; besides, Sars does not need to confirm details of payment - they just deposit the money without any questions.

I also noticed that the address was a bit different from the normal Sars address.
 
But my tax return has been finished and closed now. I planned to call Sars today to ask about this deposit link they sent me, as it was not working.

But I noticed a return in my bank account which is the one I filed... meaning the R4 500 email really was a scam.

 - Fin24

Have you ever been scammed? Tell us about it.

Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyFin24 have been independently written by members of the Fin24 community. The views of users published on Fin24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent those of Fin24.

Fin24 reserves the right to obtain service providers' comments before publishing any articles or letters, and to edit any material used. Fin24 also reserves the right to edit or delete any and all user comments received.


 
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