Received a message telling you that you’re due a tax refund? Check the website carefully before entering any details.
A warning circulating in Malta highlights fake websites designed to look like the official Malta Tax and Customs Administration (MTCA) online portal.
The scam messages may tell recipients that an income tax refund is ready and direct them to a link where they are asked to provide information.
Fake Websites Can Look Convincing
The warning states that these websites are designed to resemble the genuine MTCA portal and may attempt to obtain users’ personal, financial or payment information.
That means people should not assume a website is legitimate simply because its design, wording or branding appears official.
The key detail to check is the domain name.
The official Malta Tax and Customs Administration website is mtca.gov.mt. Anyone accessing MTCA services online should check the address carefully and avoid entering information on any other domain.
Received A Suspicious Tax Refund Message?
If a text, email or other message unexpectedly tells you that you are owed a refund, avoid rushing to follow the link included in the message.
Instead, access the Malta Tax and Customs Administration independently through its official website and verify any information there.
If you have already entered sensitive financial or payment details on a suspicious website, consider contacting the relevant financial institution promptly and reporting the incident through the appropriate official channels.
With scam websites increasingly capable of resembling genuine online services, checking the web address before entering your details can make all the difference.
