Tax authorities warn against explosion of phishing messages

The Tax and Customs Administration warns of an explosive increase in phishing emails and text messages. The tax authorities received hundreds of reports a day this week, while normally there are only a few. The notifications state that the recipient has an outstanding debt.

The Tax and Customs Administration writes that the emails do not come from the tax authorities themselves. The messages have been sent in the past few days. In addition to emails, text messages are also sent. The e-mail states that the recipient has a debt with the tax authorities. There is a link in the messages with which a zip file is downloaded. It contains a JavaScript file that installs malware. It is not known what kind of malware that is.

The tax authorities say there is an explosion of reports. Normally, the service receives several dozen reports per week. The Tax Authorities told the NOS that there were at least 500 reports last week, and at least a thousand last Monday. It is not known exactly where the major phishing attack came from.