Continue to warn about forms of fraud against taxpayers

Fraudsters employ various technological and techniques to impersonate tax officials and agencies to steal taxpayers personal information and financial assets

Many warnings still exist in cases where people are trapped

In response to government directives on administrative reform, e-government development and digital transformation, the Vietnamese tax sector has accelerated its modernization efforts and embraced IT applications to enhance electronic transactions and information provision for taxpayers. These initiatives have been recognized and applauded by the government, society, citizens, and businesses.

However, unscrupulous individuals have taken advantage of the tax sector's rollout of electronic tax services to taxpayers. These fraudsters employ various technological and techniques to impersonate tax officials and agencies, deceiving and defrauding taxpayers to steal their personal information and financial assets.

Some common fraudulent tactics included: fraudsters pose as tax officials or representatives of tax agencies to intimidate or pressure taxpayers into providing personal information, such as ID card images, under the guise of offering assistance with tax reduction, refunds, settlements, or inspections; sending phishing links disguised as legitimate tax authority or company websites, tricking users into downloading malicious applications that grant them control over the victim's phone and steal money from their bank accounts.

Besides that, fraudsters mimic General Department of Taxation (GDT) SMS messages to spread fake information, provide fraudulent links, and instructions to gain control over the victim's phone or computer, ultimately stealing money from their bank accounts.

The GDT has consistently warned taxpayers about these fraudulent schemes, particularly during peak tax settlement periods. However, some individuals continue to fall victim to these tactics.

Additionally, there have been cases of businesses misusing individuals' personal information (name, tax code, ID number) to inflate income and expenses, infringing on individuals' rights and causing distress to taxpayers.

Strictly handle cases of unauthorized use of personal information

To ensure the rights and interests of taxpayers, raising awareness of fraudulent tricks, the GDT notes and recommends preventive measures. Accordingly, do not provide personal information, bank account information to anyone via phone or social networks; carefully check contact information, especially requests to transfer money or provide information via phone, social networks.

In addition, do not allow any individual to directly access your computer or phone to support the installation and use of tax agency software; absolutely do not click on the links attached to messages on mobile phones, zalo, facebook,... claiming to be representatives of the tax agency instructing tax procedures.

At the same time, it is necessary to accurately identify information related to the tax industry: electronic tax service application software, the electronic information portal of the tax industry, support phone numbers; do not download or install applications for smart devices through links (links) or other unofficial instructions.

The GDT emphasizes that the tax industry does not have a policy of sending tax officials to call to connect via social networks such as zalo, facebook,... to offer support to install tax industry applications on computers, mobile phones and other internet-connected devices to get tax reductions, tax refunds, and resolve tax administrative procedures.

The GDT affirms that it will strictly handle cases where enterprises use personal information (name, tax code, ID number) to declare, calculate salary costs and wages when determining personal income tax obligations while in fact not actually paying income to individuals.

Accordingly, the tax authorities continue to implement the direction of the GDT at Official Dispatch No. 1353/TCT-DNNCN dated April 2, 2024 on strengthening the management of personal income tax. At the same time, be more proactive in coordinating between tax authorities, reviewing, detecting and handling cases where enterprises use personal information to make false income declarations.

In addition, the GDT requires that when receiving feedback from individuals about being exploited by enterprises, the tax authority should take the initiative to coordinate and transfer information to the tax authority managing the enterprise to have measures to verify and handle, thereby supporting taxpayers, avoiding the case of requiring individuals to contact themselves, increasing administrative procedures for taxpayers.

At the same time, it is suggested that the tax authorities continue to promote and support the guidance of individuals to know about the benefits of installing and using the e-Tax Mobile application to look up, monitor and control their tax obligations.