SARS warns public against new tax refund scam

• SARS warns taxpayers of a new scam claiming tax refunds via email and SMS.
• Scammers use artificial intelligence to generate professional-looking email templates.
• Taxpayers must verify credentials of tax practitioners before sharing personal information.
• SARS will never request passwords, OTPs, or banking PINs via email or SMS.
• Taxpayers should be cautious of emails claiming tax refunds and report suspicious activity to the SARS IT Security team at phishing@sars.gov.za or the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 00 2870.

The service advises taxpayers to use only official SARS channels and be cautious of emails claiming tax refunds, as these may be phishing attempts.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has issued a warning about a new scam circulating through email and SMS, claiming that recipients are owed tax refunds. The emails appear to be from legitimate SARS addresses but contain links to fake websites designed to trick taxpayers into sharing personal information. According to SARS, scammers are using artificial intelligence to generate professional-looking email templates that are difficult to identify as fraudulent.

SARS emphasizes the importance of verifying the credentials of any tax practitioner before sharing personal information. The service advises taxpayers to use only official SARS channels and be cautious of emails claiming tax refunds, as these may be phishing attempts. To verify a tax practitioner's registration, taxpayers can check the SARS website or contact the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 00 2870.

SARS has identified several red flags that may indicate a scam. These include emails asking for personal, tax, banking, or eFiling details; requests for passwords, one-time PINs (OTPs), or banking PINs via email, SMS, social media, or telephone; and links to fake websites or attachments with .htm or .html extensions. Taxpayers are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the SARS IT Security team by emailing phishing@sars.gov.za.

Lawyers and compliance officers should advise their clients to be cautious of emails claiming tax refunds from SARS, as these may be phishing attempts. Clients should only use official SARS channels and verify the credentials of any tax practitioner before sharing personal information.

Source: Original reporting via SAnews.gov.za