Inland Revenue is warning customers be alert for fraudulent emails and imitation websites claiming to be from the department.
"The scheme involves customers receiving emails with links to imitation Inland Revenue web pages for Online Tax Refunds," group manager Customer Services Eleanor Young said.
"We want to make our customers aware that this is a scam and a deliberate attempt to use the Inland Revenue logo and brand to steal confidential and personal information. Although the pages look very similar to those on the Inland Revenue website they are most definitely fake."
Any information given to the fraudsters could result in a business or individuals suffering identity and data theft, she said.
