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Refund & overpayment scams

You are told you are owed a refund (tax, subscription, parcel) and must "confirm" bank details to receive it - or a buyer "accidentally" overpays and asks you to return the difference before their payment bounces.

Warning signs

  • An unexpected refund you have to "claim" by entering bank data.
  • A buyer overpays and asks you to refund the excess fast.
  • Tax-office "refund" by email or text with a link.

Example

You are due a refund of EUR 128.40. Your tax refund is pending - confirm your bank details to receive payment: hxxp://refund-portal-gov.net

Made-up example - not a real message.

How to protect yourself

  1. 01Tax authorities announce refunds by official letter, not email links.
  2. 02Never refund an "overpayment" until the original payment has fully cleared.

Already caught out?

  1. 01Contact your bank if you shared details or returned money.
  2. 02Report the message and do not reply.

Sources

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