The Tax and Customs Authority said today that a fake, or 'Phishing' email is doing the rounds enticing recipients to click on a link which will download and install malicious software.
The email should be deleted by anyone receiving any communication that asks taxpayers to click to find out more or to access any files - they do not exist.
"The Tax and Customs Authority has knowledge that this a fraudulent message is circulating with the heading Tax Authority - Debt. This message is false and should be ignored," reads the notice published on the Finanças website today.
"Under no circumstances should anyone click on the link or authorise any transfer of files, because the risk of compromising your computer and your data is high."
Taxpayers should suspect all links and files sent by email, warns Finanças which urges taxpayers always to confirm with the source through email or the contact section of Internet sites "whenever any action or interaction is requested."
“If in doubt, do not reply to messages, do not click links or download or open files" reads the warning, noting that taxpayers should "never provide or disclose your name or password that allows access to the Finanças portal and to delete messages of unknown origin or dubious content."
The warning did not go into detail as to how or whether a third party had access to its database.
José Tribolet, adviser to the Government in the area of IT, says that talking to the Tax Authority "is like talking to a wall."
Tribolet warned today that "the infrastructure of the Ministry of Finance is on the verge of collapse."
The Professor of Computer Engineering at the Instituto Superior Técnico and adviser to the Government says the he has warned politicians and government administrative officers, but has not had replies.
"They look at me with that look of respect for an academic and then say 'this guy is daft,'" said Tribolet, adding "It would be very serious if the tax machine failed."
