One more year. With the arrival of the income campaign, cybercriminals try to defraud through false emails (phishing) or text messages (smishing), posing as the Tax Agency.
That is why it is vital to be aware of the threat and be aware of any suspicious communication that requests personal or financial information, which are used to steal personal data and access accounts or hire fraudulent services. The first alert went off the same day the campaign was launched.
The Tax Agency warns that it does not request by email or SMS confidential, economic or personal information, account numbers or card numbers, nor attach attachments with invoice information or other types of data, as false messages can lead to believe. Nor does it make refunds to credit or debit cards, nor does it use Bizum as a payment method. And “it never charges any amount for the services it provides,” it warns on its website.
If you have requested a prior appointment, it is the Tax Agency that will contact the user by phone, remember to avoid another front of fraud.
One of the fraud channels is electronic. It consists of massive emails in which the identity and image of the State Tax Administration Agency (AEAT) is impersonated. These fraudulent or phishing emails refer to alleged refunds or refunds of non-existent taxes, and in order to access them, the recipient is asked to enter bank account or credit or debit card details in a web address or form.
The criminals’ objective is to obtain the victim’s personal or bank details, either through a fake website that pretends to be that of the Tax Agency or by downloading files with viruses. Once with this data, they can empty bank accounts. That is why prevention is the best measure against suspicious communications that request sensitive financial data.
To avoid being a victim of these crimes, it is recommended not to open emails from unknown or unsolicited users, not to respond to these messages, to be careful when following links or downloading email attachments, even from known contacts. “Do not download documents or files attached to the email and do not click on the links that they send you to receive returns. In any case, if they ask you for confidential information, delete it”, summary from the Tax Agency.
In previous years it has been observed that telephone service and information companies are sending text messages (SMS) in which they offer services such as the request for the rent draft and its confirmation. They seek to redirect user calls to the Tax Agency, but they are charged based on their special rates. “If you receive an SMS supposedly sent by the Tax Agency with links to receive tax refunds or if they request confidential information, delete it,” it alerts.
To be cured of ills, it is recommended to only use the official channels of the Tax Agency for any management related to taxes and access its electronic headquarters through the official link.
