The Flemish Tax Administration (Vlabel) is warning of new phishing emails that are currently circulating.
In those emails, which use the logo of the Flemish Government, citizens are invited to click through on certain tax documents, but this is only meant to scam people. The Flemish Tax Administration calls for vigilance. "Never click on links in these kinds of e-mails, but go to the eBox yourselves so you are in a secure environment."
The Flemish Tax Administration has received reports of citizens who received an e-mail with the subject line: Ontheffingsbrief Verkeersbelasting – tax year 2022.
According to that email, victims receive a new message in their eBox from the Flemish Tax Administration. At first glance, the mail looks reliable and it uses the logo of the Flemish Government. However, when clicking on the blue button To the document, users are not directed to the electronic mailbox (eBox), but to the bank. "This is a form of phishing," states the Flemish Tax Office.
Vlabel stresses that using eBox will never lead directly to a bank application, request bank details or ask to make payments yourself. "It is therefore advisable, in the event of such emails, to immediately abort the process and double-check by going to eBox yourself via a search engine and then accessing it using your eID or Itsme, so that you can be sure you are surfing in a secure environment," Vlabel explains.
The phishing mails are also sent from the mail address noreply@vlaanderen.be, but Vlabel points out that the Flemish Government always sends these kinds of mails via noreply@burgerprofiel.vlaanderen.be. “So always check the mail address carefully too when receiving such mails,” the tax authority concludes.
