Beware of e-mails claiming the taxman is investigating your financial affairs - it could be a version of the latest Internet identity theft scam to hit the US.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) says there have been no reported incidents of the scam locally. However, taxpayers should be aware that the Revenue Service does not make use of e-mail when conducting assessments.
Identity theft involves using someone's personal data to take over their financial accounts, run up charges on their credit cards and apply for loans, credit cards and other services in the victim's name.
The US Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), on Friday warned of an e-mail scheme attempting to trick taxpayers into revealing personal information such as social security numbers, driver's licence data and bank and credit card numbers.
The IRS says that taxpayers receive an e-mail claiming they are under investigation for tax fraud and are subject to prosecution.
The message also informs recipients that they can help the investigation by providing "real" information and directs them to an official-looking Web site where detailed information is requested to dispute the charge.
The IRS says the offending Web site has been shut down and the scheme is being investigated. However, it says new versions of the scam could surface in the future.
South African Revenue Service (SARS) spokesman Sechaba Nkosi says SARS is not aware of any similar incidents locally.
"The only electronic relationship we have with taxpayers is with payment - where people pay us and where we make repayments to them in the case of overpayment."
He says in the case of an assessment, SARS sends a letter to a taxpayer providing the assessment and outlining the reasons why the taxpayer is seen to have underpaid, for example. Contact details are also provided in such notices.
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