IRB warns of email scam
> Board’s email domain cloned to get people’s bank account details
PETALING JAYA: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) cautioned the public against an email scam that attempts to get people to reveal their bank account details.
In a statement yesterday, IRB said a syndicate uses the names of its CEO, board members as well as the logo of the board and banks to appear “legitimate” to convince people that they have overpaid their taxes and their bank details are needed to process the refunds.
“Please note that IRB has never sent emails to request for tax payers’ bank details.
“This is because those details will be obtained from their income tax return forms that are submitted yearly,” IRB said.
The public are advised to verify the authenticity of emails claiming to be from the IRB by checking the email domain used by the sender.
“Every official email from IRB will be sent from the ‘@hasil.gov.my’ email domain. The public must not follow the instructions from emails that are not sent from IRB’s official email domain.”
IRB listed some of the fake email domains appearing as IRB@vanderbilt.edu and @ vumc.org.
Those who are suspicious of emails claiming to be from the IRB can contact the Hasil Careline at 1-800-88-5436 or the nearest IRB branch number listed on www. hasil.gov.my.
The board encourages victims to lodge reports with the authorities for further action.