HMRC are warning taxpayers about phishing emails, after almost 75,000 fake emails were reported over the last six months.

There has been a 70 per cent increase in phishing emails being reported on the same period in 2013.

Over the same six month period, HMRC worked with other law enforcement agencies to help close down more than 4,000 websites responsible for sending out the emails.

Emails promise a tax refund and ask for details which will help them gain access to your bank account. Once they have stolen money they sell the details to other criminal gangs, which can lead to identity theft.

Check www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/advice.htm for HMRC’s online security advice and more information is available at www.getsafeonline.co.uk.