Cyber-criminals are sending out different versions of the email message below with the subject: "Notification of Vehicle Tax DD Payment Schedule (Ref: 000000-000005-274421-001)." The email messages have a malicious Microsoft Word document attached that will attempt to download viruses, Trojan horses or other malware onto the victims' computers, if they attempt to open them.
The Fake and Virus Email Message
From: directdebit@taxdisc.service .gov.uk
Subject: Notification of Vehicle Tax DD Payment Schedule (Ref: 000000-000005-274421-001)
Attachment: FG08OEE.doc
Important: Confirmation of your successful
Direct Debit instruction
Dear customer
Vehicle registration number: FG08OEE
Thank you for arranging to pay the vehicle tax by Direct Debit.
Please can you check that the details attached below, and your payment schedule are correct.
If any of the above financial details are incorrect please contact your bank as soon as possible.
However, if your details are correct you don’t need to do anything and your Direct Debit will be processed as normal. You have the right to cancel your Direct Debit at any time. A copy of the Direct Debit Guarantee is included with this letter.
For your information, the collection will be made using this reference, and this is how your payment will be detailed on your bank statements:
DVLA Identifier: 295402
Reference: FG08OEE
Your vehicle tax will automatically renew unless you notify us of any changes. We will send a new payment schedule at the time of renewal.
Yours sincerely
Rohan Gye
Vehicles Service Manager
The name of the malicious attachment is:
The attached malicious Microsoft Word document has a set of instructions called a Macro that will attempt to dowload viruses, Trojan horses and other malware.
The cybercriminals behind the malicious email message aim is to trick the curious recipients into opening the malicious attachment, which will infect their computers with a virus or Trojan horse.
Once their computers have become infected with a Trojan horse or some other malware, the cybercriminals behind this email message will be able to access and take control of their computers remotely from anywhere around the world. They may spy on them, use their computesr to commit cyber-crimes, or steal their personal and financial information.
Now, if you have already opened the malicious file, please do a full scan of your computer with the antivirus software installed on it.
If you don’t have antivirus software installed on your computer, please click here for a list of free antivirus software.
Click here for a list of email attachments you should never open, regardless of where they came from.
For a list of other virus email messages, please click here.