Scammers have been impersonating Malaysia's Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) in emails that demand urgent tax payments and documents within 72 hours. The fraudulent messages threaten recipients with heavy penalties and jail if they fail to comply, aiming to induce fear and trick victims into revealing personal and banking information or making payments to fake accounts [1, 2, 3].
Two recent scam emails reported between June 3 and June 10 mimicked official LHDN notices titled "Notis Tuntutan Cukai & Penalti." These messages used fake email addresses, landline numbers, and legal references to appear legitimate. One email threatened penalties of up to 300% of underpaid tax and 5 years in jail, while the other warned of a 200% penalty and 3 years imprisonment. Both demanded compliance within 72 hours [1, 2, 3].
Scammers do not limit themselves to email. They also use phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and sometimes fake officials visiting in person to pressure victims [3]. They try to rush recipients into paying into non-LHDN bank accounts, bypassing official channels [2, 3].
The LHDN advises that official contact information ends only with @hasil.gov.my email addresses, and phone numbers are listed on the LHDN website. Official tax payments must be made through recognized channels to avoid fraud [2, 3].
People targeted by these scams are urged not to panic, avoid clicking on suspicious links, never call or reply to suspicious numbers, and verify suspicious contact by calling official LHDN phone lines or using their live chat service. The LHDN warns, "Never reveal your personal details, your banking details, especially online banking passwords" [1, 2, 3].
Victims who realize they were scammed should immediately notify their bank and contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) hotline at 997 [3].
