A new type of fraud: fake letters allegedly from the tax authorities

30 January 08:56

Fraudsters are sending fake letters to Ukrainians allegedly from the State Tax Service of Ukraine, which contain contacts that the addressee should use to contact a representative of the agency. This is reported on the website of the State Tax Service, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.

“In recent days, a massive distribution of e-mails has been recorded, allegedly on behalf of the territorial divisions of the State Tax Service of Ukraine, about the need to contact a representative of the State Tax Service,” the statement said.

What does a fraudulent message look like?

The text of the fake email reads as follows:

“Good afternoon. i am concerned about [Name, surname, patronymic of the representative of the management of the territorial body of the State Tax Service of Ukraine]. Please tell [Name, patronymic of the taxpayer’s manager] to contact me immediately. Tel. 380932652751”.

The State Tax Service emphasizes that the State Tax Service does not provide personal phone numbers for communication in its correspondence.

“Fake messages are sent with a spoof of the State Tax Service of Ukraine’s email address. They look like official letters and mislead the recipient. This way, the attackers easily gain trust,” the tax authorities warned.

How does the fraud scheme work?

Fraudsters spoof the email address, which creates the illusion of an official message.

In this way, they try to gain the recipient’s trust and force him or her to transfer confidential information or perform other undesirable actions.

How to protect yourself from phishing attacks?

The State Tax Service of Ukraine reminds:

  • Official information for taxpayers is published only on the STS website: https://tax.gov.ua.
  • Use only official contacts to communicate with the State Tax Service:

Recommendations for safe use of e-mail

  1. Maintain personal cyber hygiene.
  2. Be cautious when opening attachments, even if the email is from a known recipient.
  3. Do not open attachments without first confirming that the actual sender sent the email.
Остафійчук Ярослав
Editor