Business · Singapore Bureau
Tax refund emails pose phishing risk, IRAS warns Singapore residents
Singapore's tax authority is alerting the public to be cautious of unsolicited emails claiming to offer tax refunds, which may be fraudulent attempts to compromise personal information. Residents are advised to avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from suspicious messages.
LSN Singapore ·
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has issued a public advisory urging residents to exercise caution when receiving unexpected emails about tax refunds, as such messages frequently serve as vectors for phishing and malware attacks.
The authority cautioned that scammers often impersonate IRAS to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or downloading harmful attachments. These tactics are designed to steal personal and financial information, including banking credentials and identity documents.
To protect themselves, residents should refrain from clicking any links in unsolicited tax-related emails and avoid downloading programs or attachments from such messages. IRAS emphasized that legitimate communications from the authority can be verified through official channels.
The advisory comes as phishing scams targeting tax filers have become increasingly sophisticated. Residents with queries about their tax accounts are encouraged to contact IRAS directly through its official website or hotline rather than responding to or engaging with suspicious emails.