Warning over bogus IRD emails

Inland Revenue is warning customers not to respond to a hoax email claiming to offer the recipient a tax refund.

"We have received a number of calls this morning about these emails, and we're trying to track the source of it in the United States and have it closed down," group manager, customer operations Heather Daly said.

"We'd remind all our customers that Inland Revenue will never ask you to forward any personal information by email, and that you should always be very careful about giving out your details or IRD number."

IRD's advice was to never click any links within a suspicious email, not to reply to the email and delete the email from in-boxes, Ms Daly said.

The hoax email was from a bogus address and if people clicked on a link it took them to a website using Inland Revenue's logo.

People were asked to enter personal details, including their username and IRD number.

"If someone has given their details to the people behind this hoax, they should contact us on 0800-227-774," Ms Daly said.

Suspicious emails targeting Inland Revenue customers should also be reported to phishingird.govt.nz

- NZPA