Government warns of tax rebate phishing scam

TAX authorities in Spain have warned of a series of 'phishing' emails going round purporting to be from them and telling the recipient he or she has a refund due.

These emails, which the tax ministry says look very authentic, ask for the person's bank details to reimburse them overpaid tax for the previous year.

This then allows the sender to empty the victim's account.

Normally, to get a tax refund due, residents have to fill out a form very similar to that which shows on the email.

But the ministry says it only ever returns overpaid tax via strictly-controlled and secure channels, usually by mailing a hard copy of the refund notice in the post from the government's tax collection agency, the Agencia Tributaria.

The ministry of tax will never ask for credit card or debit card details via a form on their website.

They have uncovered the scam as a result of various reports from residents in Spain saying they had received these emails.