News No. : 14/2009
Date : 12 May 2009
Subject : Beware of tax refund fraud through ATM
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Mr. Vinai Vittavasgarnvej, Director-General of the Revenue Department, revealed that “The Revenue Department received a number of complaints from taxpayers and general public through Call Center that, there have been groups of criminals claiming to be revenue officers making phone calls using 13 digits telephone numbers or automatic telephone not showing personal identity informing taxpayers about their tax refund and luring taxpayers to make transfer to the criminals’ accounts via ATMs in order to get their tax refund. The criminals informed taxpayers that they were entitled to tax refund of the year 2005-2007 and as it was the last due day of refunding, taxpayers should either collect the refund cheques at the Revenue Department’s headquarters, or receive the refund through transfer to taxpayers’ bank accounts via ATM. In the case that taxpayers were unable to collect the cheques, the criminals would lure taxpayers to ATM and trick them to do transactions at ATM in English language ending with taxpayers transferring their own money to the criminals’ accounts. In some cases, taxpayers’ personal information was used in future fraud”.
The Director-General announced further that “The Revenue Department has no policy to call taxpayers and ask for further personal information because the Revenue Department already has taxpayer’s information in its database. Especially, for tax refund case the Revenue Department will refund by cheque bearing the taxpayer’s name and send it directly to the taxpayer’s address. The Revenue Department does not make any transfer through ATM. Should anyone come across such activity; please do not be deceived and call RD Call Centre, 0 2272 8000, or the nearest Revenue Office during working hours.”
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