MESSAGES circulating on social media and messaging apps claim that there are unscrupulous individuals impersonating Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) officers to scam people using tax arrears as a carrot. Is this true?
VERDICT:
TRUE
Yes, such methods have been employed by scammers to make a quick buck off unsuspecting victims.
As such, financial institutions like banks are known to send out cautionary reminders to account holders about such scams.
In a message to its customers, Public Bank offered tips on how to avoid being scammed by unscrupulous parties seeking to use this particular modus operandi.
According to the message, victims will be contacted by the scammers who claimed to be tax officers from LHDN.
They would inform the victims that someone had stolen their identity and, as a result, they had tax arrears.
The scammers would then ask for personal details and transfer the call to a purported police officer or Bank Negara official for further investigation.
Public Bank urged its customers to hang up on such calls, especially if the number is unknown.
"Do not make any payments if you are diverted to third-party apps or websites.
"When making online payments through a website, look for URLs beginning with 'https://' and a closed padlock symbol," the bank advised.
It also told customers to stay calm and ask a trusted person for a second opinion when in doubt.
