Phishing scam posing as HMRC Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

It was only a matter of time, but Tech Radar is reporting that an email phishing scam is being used to target business owners applying for the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Cyber criminals are exploiting the aid package with what they describe as “a highly realistic bogus email, purporting to be from HMRC”…

The email, revealed today by the Lanop Accountancy Group, is targeting business owners using official HMRC branding and purports to be from ‘Jim Harra, First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of HMRC’.

Around 50 business owners have so far reported receiving the suspicious emails to Lanop after noticing the email was sent via an obviously dubious address, despite its user title being ‘HM Revenue & Customs’.

Phishers certainly won’t be on furlough at the moment – they’re looking for every opportunity going to catch people out and with the extreme stress and pressure business owners are under, they can no-doubt smell blood.

Stay vigilant.

See more (including images of the phishing emails) at Tech Radar: Hackers exploit HMRC Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme with phishing email scam