SARS Tax Refund Scam

[irneb]

Just got this from (apparently) a SARS representative:

WARNING FROM SARS
Please be alert and alert others

“Emails received by taxpayer from an address refund@sars.gov.za with the subject line “Tax Refund” should immediately be regarded as a scam and IGNORED by taxpayers. Taxpayers must NOT provide their banking details as requested in the email.”
Palesa Malepe
SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
E-MAIL:PMalepe@sars.gov.za

The attached screenshot of IE was included in the email. Now this imediately looks like a scam (due to that wierdly combined address). I.e. the www.sars.co.za is part of a parameter to another web site. So it looks like some form of phising. Also asking for "Card pin" WTF? No bloody way!

[duncan drennan]

Got this email today,

----
Subject: Tax Refund Notification

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity, we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of 3,482.50 ZAR. Please submit the tax refund request and allow 6-9 days in order to process it.

Click Here to submit you tax refund request

Note : A refund can be delayed a variety of reasons, for example submitting invalid records or applying after deadline.

Yours Sincerely

South African Revenue Service.
----

"Here" links to a dodgy website address.

[Dave A]

SoftDux managed to shut down one of the sites these scammers are using. But it's obviously a pretty serious campaign.

I wish SARS (or someone with the power to really pursue this sort of thing) would take this seriously enough to actually track down the perpetrators.

[BBBEE_CompSpec]

Why would thieves run after and catch thieves? This has been the ploy of the ANC since they seized power in SA.

[tec0]

Well perhaps now that the Banks and the Government is targeted by scammers that these crimes will be noticed and hopefully in future put the people responsible for scamming behind bars.

[BBBEE_CompSpec]

They cannot even put Selebi behind bars for corruption and he was the head of Interpol.

[Dave A]

Why would thieves run after and catch thieves?

Because government hates competition?