[imagesource:here]

When we see what we actually get in return for paying our taxes, it’s tough not to view everything to do with SARS as a scam.

At least our politicians and leaders are driving around in flashy new vehicles, like National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and those two BMWs.

Heaven forbid she travels in anything less than ultimate luxury and feels the force of her vehicle hitting a pothole.

Such is life, I guess, and along with paying taxes, we can also rely on somebody trying to dupe us along the way. SARS generally issues warnings about scams as tax season kicks into gear and this year is no different.

BusinessTech reports:

[SARS] said that members of the public are randomly emailed with false “spoofed” emails made to look as if these emails were sent from SARS, but are in fact fraudulent emails aimed at enticing unsuspecting taxpayers to part with personal information such as bank account details.

Examples include emails that appear to be from returns@sars.co.za or refunds@sars.co.za indicating that taxpayers are eligible to receive tax refunds.

Links in the email then redirect you to fake forms and websites which try to fool you into entering sensitive personal information.

This can include bank account details. SARS shared a screenshot of an example:

Image: SARS

I will give the scammers some credit in that there are far fewer typos above than in the average ‘someone died and left you millions in inheritance’ emails that come my way.

You should also look out for this angle, again shared by SARS:

Image: SARS

You have not been summonsed. Do not click on that link to view the SARS letter.

I used to think that surely nobody would fall for these but sadly, yes, they do. Don’t be one of them.

A reminder that you can always enlist the help of tax professionals, like the team at Galbraith | Rushby, to take all of these worries off the table.

SARS also recommends heeding the following advice:

• Do not open or respond to emails from unknown sources.
• Beware of emails that ask for personal, tax, banking and eFiling details (login credentials, passwords, pins, credit/debit card information, etc.).
• SARS will never request your banking details in any communication that you receive via post, email, or SMS. However, for the purpose of telephonic engagement and authentication purposes, SARS will verify your personal details. Importantly, SARS will not send you any hyperlinks to other websites – even those of banks.

If the email or text message is asking for credit card details or contains a *.htm or *.html attachment, steer clear.

In addition, if a message requests your banking details via post, email, or SMS, it is not an official SARS communication.

There really is no need to be taken for a ride while being taken for a ride.

[source:bustech]