The Tax Authority has issued a warning about dangerous letters: what you need to know
18 March 04:45
The State Tax Service of Ukraine has reported a new wave of fraudulent emails being sent to taxpayers purportedly on behalf of the agency. In reality, these messages contain malicious files and can lead to the loss of personal data.
This was reported by the State Tax Service’s press office, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
How the new scam works
According to the tax service, fraudsters are sending emails with subject lines regarding alleged financial audits or money laundering investigations.
Such messages may contain:
- malicious attachments
- suspicious links
- archived files
- documents containing viruses
The State Tax Service emphasizes that these emails have no connection to the government agency and are sent from third-party email addresses.
Which files are the most dangerous
Experts warn that files with the following extensions can be particularly dangerous:
- .exe
- .scr
- .zip
- .rar
- suspicious .pdf files
Opening such attachments can install malware on your computer.
Why are such emails dangerous?
The tax authority explains that after opening an infected file, scammers can gain remote access to the user’s computer.
This can lead to:
- password theft
- access to banking data
- compromised email
- leakage of confidential information
Such attacks are particularly dangerous for business owners and accountants.
What the tax service advises
The State Tax Service urges Ukrainians to follow basic cybersecurity rules:
- do not open suspicious emails
- do not click on unknown links
- check the sender’s address
- do not download attachments from unknown sources
- use antivirus software
The agency also noted that similar fraudulent campaigns have previously been carried out in the name of other government agencies, including the “Diya” app and the Bureau of Economic Security.
How to distinguish a genuine letter from the tax authority
The tax authority reminds the public that official correspondence is sent only through official channels and does not contain suspicious attachments.
If in doubt, they recommend verifying the information on the State Tax Service’s official website or contacting customer support.
