Saudi Arabia has issued a warning over digital tax scams.
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has warned taxpayers not to respond to any messages claiming refunds or financial dues to the authority, or asking for personal or banking data.
The authority said that such fraudulent practices aim to obtain personal and banking data through suspicious text messages claiming to be from ZATCA and requesting access to electronic links to provide more information or fill out forms, stressing that it does not make such requests and that people should only use the authority’s website and the ZATCA application for smartphones.
Saudi tax scam
The authority urged clients to make sure that they use the authority’s channels of communication by calling the call centre, which works 24 hours a day, at 19993, through the account “Ask Zakat, Tax and Customs” on Twitter (@Zatca_Care), via e-mail: [email protected], or through the instant chat via the authority’s website.
ZATCA reminded its clients of the importance of protecting themselves from fraud in Saudi Arabia, protecting banking and personal information by not responding to messages received from entities impersonating it, and verifying the source of spam messages before clicking on the links in order not to become a victim of fraud.