4.3 C
Lancashire
Friday, March 29, 2024

HMRC cuts scam emails by 300m through new cyber security initiative

HMRC has successfully reduced the number of phishing emails its customers receive by 300 million this year, better protecting taxpayers from fraud and identity theft.

This is a significant decrease in the half a billion phishing emails sent to customers alleging to be from an ‘@HMRC.gov.uk’ email address in both 2014 and 2015, and shows the progress the department is making in tackling these types of cyber threats.

Discussing the achievement, HMRC’s Head of Cyber Security, Ed Tucker, said:

“Phishing emails are a major focus for our Cyber Security Team. They’re more than just unwanted messages; they are a means by which criminals look to exploit members of the public and gain access to their personal and financial data. This in turn can lead to fraud and identity theft.

“By introducing a new level of security, we’ve been able to tackle these threats head-on and almost all attempts to scam taxpayers by pretending to be from an HMRC email address will now fall flat. The added security this brings will be invaluable, especially at this time of year when many customers are busy using their online Personal Tax Account to submit their Self-Assessment returns.”

The achievement has been made possible through HMRC’s implementation of the email authentication protocol Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC). The security process works by determining which email servers are allowed to send emails on behalf of the organisation. If an email passes the checks it is deemed legitimate and delivered. If it fails then it is deemed fraudulent and is not delivered.

Ed Tucker, who recently won the Security Professional of the Year award at the UK IT Industry Awards, added:

“While this does not mean a complete end to HMRC-based phishing, it has taken hundreds of millions of scam messages out of circulation and will make criminals’ emails look far less legitimate, giving our customers a much better chance of spotting them.”

As one of the first departments to apply the DMARC control, HMRC is now at the forefront of contributing to the delivery of the Active Cyber Defence Programme; an essential part of the National Cyber Security Strategy.

spot_imgspot_img

Latest

Burnley: Kompany staying clear of rivals’ PSR problems

Vincent Kompany is fully focused on Burnley’s bid to...

The Best New Betting Sites for April 2024

There are plenty of new betting sites emerging in...

Best UK Football Betting Sites For 2024

Football is the UK's biggest and most popular sport....

Free Bets: The Best Sign-Up Offers April 2024

When players sign up for a site for the...
spot_img

Subscribe to our newsletter

Business Lancashire will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.

Don't miss

Best Horse Racing Betting Sites In The UK

Those looking for the best UK horse racing betting...

Police appeal for information following Thornton Cleveleys vehicle fires

Detectives are investigating the cause of multiple vehicle fires,...

Best Betting Sites UK for April 2024

It isn't an understatement when we say that the...

Michael Gastauer: Impacting Lives Beyond Business

Michael Gastauer may be mostly known for his business...

More News

King Charles diagnosed with cancer

Buckingham Palace just announced that King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. The specific type of cancer has not been disclosed; however,...

‘The Garden Furniture Centre’ Proudly Sponsors the Oldest Solo Female Ocean Rower

The Garden Furniture Centre Ltd is delighted to announce our sponsorship of Victoria Jeffs on her daring Atlantic rowing expedition! This marks a significant...

No Decisions Made Yet on the Future of Disposable Vapes

Amidst the media buzz surrounding a potential ban on disposable vapes, it's crucial to clarify that this is currently in the consultation phase, and...