Scam alert : IRD Refunds

Please note this sub-forum does not provide professional finance advice. You should seek advice from a licensed financial advisor.

To post in this sub-forum you must have made 100 posts or have Trust status or have completed our ID Verification.

If investing please consider our affiliate link for new accounts: Sharesies.

Forums › Finance and wealth management › Scam alert : IRD Refunds

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13765 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#69455 8-Oct-2010 15:56

Just happened to check an email account that I use for my business at home and found an email supposedly from IRD regarding a refund.

Clicking the link in the email to "confirm the refund" took me to a very good rip of the IRD website - only in looks though - soon as you click any menu links you get taken to the actual domain the scam is being run from "balibuilders.com".

The ripped site contains a bunch of icons from various banks in NZ (ANZ, KiwiBank etc) in the middle which you are expected to click onto to choose your bank that you want your refund put into. Clicking one of these then takes you to a very good rip from the banks login screen - entering any details here return an error saying wrong password, but obviously its recording everything you type.

Nothing new ?

No not really, except this :

1) They used the correct email address that I gave IRD for contact.
2) I am waiting for a refund from IRD.
3) The amount is very close (or may even be the same, have to check paperwork at home) as what Im awaiting to be refunded.

Tried calling IRD but their phone system is overloaded........ (sigh)

I am aware of the other recent scams similar to this but the timing and amount mentioned in the email is too close to home for my liking...

Update : Emailed 'phishing@ird.govt.nz'

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

heavenlywild

5060 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#389632 8-Oct-2010 16:21

Now that's new for them to know that you are waiting on a refund and the amount due is very close to what you are expecting!

I wonder if the IRD system has been hacked in some way, otherwise how would they know?

Very dodgy, thanks for the heads up.

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#389635 8-Oct-2010 16:29

Hey Gavin,

what was the amount?
I got it too, saying 988.50

A few months back I got a similar one and had the site removed, it looks like the same has happened here, the newenglandparkingcouncil obviously have an easy to guess password.

With the one a few months back it was a legitimate watch site. Might pay to email one of their administrators maybe?

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13765 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#389644 8-Oct-2010 16:56

vinnieg: Hey Gavin,

what was the amount?
I got it too, saying 988.50

A few months back I got a similar one and had the site removed, it looks like the same has happened here, the newenglandparkingcouncil obviously have an easy to guess password.

With the one a few months back it was a legitimate watch site. Might pay to email one of their administrators maybe?

Ah phew, thanks for that info, that was the amount :)
Their timing and choice of email address to use is scary tho :-p

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

Kyanar

4089 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#389813 9-Oct-2010 09:50

The timing is just because they know that this is the time of year that the IRD issues refunds.

For what it's worth, I've also received the same email to an address that the IRD does not have. So I wouldn't worry about hacks or anything like that.

geek4me

843 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#389849 9-Oct-2010 12:07

I had these emails too. IRD said (I got through) they are fake. They will send you the usual Statement of Account when they have processed your tax return, if you sent them one.

geek4me

843 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#390367 11-Oct-2010 10:23

My colleague got one of these fake emails today. If you hover on the word "Here" that so called lets you request your refund you get a link: http://phisig.opgwebhosting.com/e107_themes/reline/images/inland/refundportal.htm which is nothing to do with IRD.

Delete delete delete!

michaelmurfy

meow
13240 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#390391 11-Oct-2010 11:18

I get about 10 of those each day, plus also somebody really wants me to become their "Mystery Shopper" - Delete them I tellz you!

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

old3eyes

9119 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#390432 11-Oct-2010 12:44

My wife got one of these at the weekend. Just hovered over the return link and see that it goes somewhere off shore with an address way different from any NZ address...

Regards,

Old3eyes

Jaxson

8041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#390453 11-Oct-2010 13:25

xpd: Tried calling IRD but their phone system is overloaded........ (sigh)

Wow, really? That's unusual.

kiwitrc

4123 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#390461 11-Oct-2010 13:52

Speaking of which, anyone here know if I have to pay tax on the $345,000,000 I am getting from some dead relative in England. Just had to send over $12,000 to get the lawyer to clear it and its all mine.

michaelmurfy

meow
13240 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#390464 11-Oct-2010 13:54

kiwitrc: Speaking of which, anyone here know if I have to pay tax on the $345,000,000 I am getting from some dead relative in England. Just had to send over $12,000 to get the lawyer to clear it and its all mine.

1.21 GIGAWATTS