TAX credit claimants in the North East are being warned about scam emails ahead of the July 31 deadline.

There are 219,400 tax credits claimants in the North East and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned that during last year’s tax credits renewals period, from April to July, nearly 22,000 scam emails were reported to the department.

These emails typically ask for information such as bank account details and often promise money if the recipient clicks on a link which takes them to a fake replica of the HMRC website.

Nick Lodge, director general of benefits and credits, said: “HMRC will never ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email.

“We are committed to your online security but the methods fraudsters use to obtain information are constantly changing, so you need to be alert.

“Anyone in the North East who receives this type of email should send it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk .”

HMRC works with law enforcement agencies in the UK and overseas to shut down these scams known as ‘phising’ attacks.

Scam websites have been closed down in countries including Austria, Mexico, South Korea and Japan.