ONLINE bankers are being warned not to fall for a potential scam.

It comes after pensioner Stewart Clayton, from Clayton-le-Moors, received an email which appeared to be from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs asking him to click on a link and enter his details so a tax refund payment of more than £630 could be paid into his account.

Mr Clayton, 67, said he knew straight away the email was a scam because he is retired and no longer pays tax.

But the former long distance lorry driver, of Barnes Street, said he could see how easy it would be for someone to fall for the fraud.

He said: “The email looks really legitimate, but I deleted it straight away.

“A lot of people in this day and age, with money being so tight, might think it is really good they are receiving a rebate, but once they have signed in, cash could be withdrawn from your account.

“You have got to be so careful.”

Mr Clayton said he reported the email to HMRC and Trading Standards.

Advice on the HMRC website says they would never contact people online to tell them they were owed money.

A spokesman said: “HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will never send notifications of a tax rebate or refund by email, or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email.

“Do not visit the website contained within the email or disclose any personal or payment information.

“Do not open any attachments or click on any links within the email, as they may contain malicious software.

“Even if you receive the same or similar phishing email on multiple occasions, please forward it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete it.”

To see a selection of fake email addresses used to distribute the tax rebate emails, visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/security