South African Revenue Service, SARS, taxpayers, tax details, banking details, eFiling information, fake forms, fake websites, SARS scam alert

SARS has warned taxpayers of an ongoing scam and provided tips to ensure your information stays safe. Photo: @sarstax / Twitter and Stock Image/ Pixabay

SARS warns of scam and shares TIPS to avoid falling for it

SARS has warned of a new scam where taxpayers’ essential details are being requested through emails and SMSes.

South African Revenue Service, SARS, taxpayers, tax details, banking details, eFiling information, fake forms, fake websites, SARS scam alert

SARS has warned taxpayers of an ongoing scam and provided tips to ensure your information stays safe. Photo: @sarstax / Twitter and Stock Image/ Pixabay

Taxpayers have been warned by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to be weary of emails and SMSes that request their personal, tax, banking and eFiling information.

SARS noted that members of the public have been receiving emails that look as though they were sent by the service. These are in fact fake and are intended to entice taxpayers into handing out their personal information.

BusinessTech reports that some of the emails indicate that the unsuspecting taxpayer is eligible to receive tax refunds. The emails also contain fake forms and links to websites that resemble the official SARS website.

Clicking on these links or filling out your information could result in your bank account details falling into the hands of the wrong people. SARS shared a few tips that are important for taxpayers to note before responding to any of these emails.

Tips to ensure the email/SMS you received is legitimate

This includes:

  • Do not open emails from unknown sources;
  • Do not respond to emails from unknown sources;
  • Beware of emails that request personal, tax, banking and eFiling details including login details, passwords, pins and bank card details;
  • SARS will never request banking details in any communication via post, email or SMS –  but will verify your details through telephonic engagement;
  • SARS will not send you any hyperlinks to other websites, this includes banks;
  • Beware of fake SMSes;
  • SARS does not send htm or html attachments and;
  • SARS will never request credit card details.

SAPS warns residents of NEW WhatsApp scam – here’s what to do…

Meanwhile, it was previously reported that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has warned locals about a new WhatsApp scam making the rounds. According to the SAPS, scammers are hijacking people’s WhatsApp accounts. 

The SAPS stated that victims will receive an SMS from the scammer claiming that they accidentally sent a six-digit code. The scammer then asks the victim to share the six-digit code with them as a matter of urgency.

“Hello I’m sorry I sent you a six-digit code by SMS by mistake can you transfer it to me it’s urgent,” reads the message.

If you received the above SMS or something similar, DO NOT share the code with anyone. Read the full story here.