Tax return season has begun, and like every year, tax scams return with it. Indeed, on April 13, 2023, the Directorate General of Public Finances (DGFiP) will open the site dedicated to the declaration of your income, if you have not asked to receive it by mail. But the magazine 60 Millions de consommateurs warns of fake emails that you may receive at the same time.
Emails sent by scammers have already claimed victims. In the latter, we find the header of the impots.gouv.fr site and the signature of the DGFiP. The email then announces to you on their behalf that you will receive a tax refund if you complete the online form that the scammer offers you.
The magazine itself received this scam email. “We are pleased to inform you that following our processing of your tax return, we have calculated that you are entitled to a tax refund in the amount of €115.49”, it is announced in this email. . Thus, a link is offered to you to fill out the form which will give you access to this famous reimbursement. Once you click on the link, a site identical to impots.gouv.fr is displayed. The trap has already closed.
Once on this site, you are asked to enter your bank details. Nevertheless, several clues can help you avoid being scammed. Indeed, the email address cannot be the same as the DGFiP. Start by checking the sender’s address. Some emails may be very similar, but there will always be a difference between the real address and the one used for phishing.
Finally, do not open the attachment or click on any links. If you think this email is fake, you can report it via SignalSpam or check its veracity on Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr, the government platform dedicated to phishing.