Tax online - copycat website warning

[Deleted User]

Netwizard wrote: »

I still don't understand how they are doing anything wrong. They freely admit on the website that their services are free elsewhere on the .GOV website and that they are providing a checking service (which, if you pay them, I assume they give you the service you are paying for).

I repeat again, If people can't actually be bothered to read things properly before entering their card details online, then more fool them.

Same with the EHIC websites. I don't know of anyone caught out by any of these sites. They make money off the stupid, of which there are plenty around obviously, and if all these sites are so dodgy, why haven't they been taken down yet?

What is wrong is they are deliberately spoofing the official sites by making their "scam" sites look very similar.

robatwork

Netwizard wrote: »

I still don't understand how they are doing anything wrong. They freely admit on the website that their services are free elsewhere on the .GOV website and that they are providing a checking service (which, if you pay them, I assume they give you the service you are paying for).

But you're a net wizard, familiar with the dark underbelly of the web.

I wouldn't get caught by this either, but I know people, who you wouldn't consider to be mugs, who would be. Do you have any elderly relatives who use the internet - can you honestly say they would see this website for what it was? Perhaps you haven't dealt with many elderly web users. For example, you can tell them 50 times to type dvla into the gov.uk website or the address bar and they will still type it into google.

Their website is deliberate passing off, and these weasels should be ashamed.

victor2

robatwork wrote: »

But you're a net wizard, familiar with the dark underbelly of the web.

I wouldn't get caught by this either, but I know people, who you wouldn'd consider to be mugs, who would be. Do you have any elderly relatives who use the internet - can you honostly say they would see this website for what it was? Perhaps you haven't dealt with many elderly web users. For example, you can tell them 50 times to type dvla into the gov.uk website or the address bar and they will still type it into google.

Their website is deliberate passing off, and these weasels should be ashamed.

Lot of truth in that.
Just try telling a relative newbie on the internet to enter a URL into their web browser - they invariably don't have a clue what you are talking about, but do have a google search bar or google as their home page. They start typing it into that and take the first suggestion it comes up with to save them typing the rest. Then they click on the official looking link and assume they are on the right place. They don't read all the small print, but manage to get to the payment details and believe that's what it costs, so pay unnecessarily.

Netwizard

robatwork wrote: »

Do you have any elderly relatives who use the internet.

Honestly? Yes. My parents, who are 65 and 70. Have only been using the internet a few years, but they can tax their car online from the reminder without my help. All the instructions are on the reminder and very simple.

Sorry but I still think so long as people read things properly, there will be no issues.

If you don't FULLY understand what you are doing, you should get someone who does to help you, or go old skool and take your reminder, MOT and insurance to the post office and do it that way

James_N

I'd agree that all the clued up people on here would surely NEVER get taken in by a site that has the same colour scheme, fonts, layout and style of the proper site, and of course you'd never sit (as I am doing) comparing the real and the fake side by side.

Unfortunately, not everyone is as careful and clued up as you and this fake site uses deliberate deception and breach of copyright to deceive the unwary. So in my eyes the OP is right and the site ought to be taken down.

Whether the authorities have the balls to act is another matter.

doningtonphil

WARNING


To those who struggle getting with getting caught out by this website, you might also want to avoid shopping at ALDI


The products look so similar to the well known brands that you might think you are getting a real bargain when you are not


How dare they, the con artists!

James_N

doningtonphil wrote: »

WARNING


To those who struggle getting with getting caught out by this website, you might also want to avoid shopping at ALDI


The products look so similar to the well known brands that you might think you are getting a real bargain when you are not


How dare they, the con artists!

Similar looking crisp packets are in no way in the same league as organised attempts to impersonate an official government website.

victor2

Netwizard wrote: »

Honestly? Yes. My parents, who are 65 and 70. Have only been using the internet a few years, but they can tax their car online from the reminder without my help. All the instructions are on the reminder and very simple.

Sorry but I still think so long as people read things properly, there will be no issues.

If you don't FULLY understand what you are doing, you should get someone who does to help you, or go old skool and take your reminder, MOT and insurance to the post office and do it that way

Well, I spend a few hours a week offering support to elderly people who have a laptop (usually passed on by their children, but a surprising number go out and buy them), but little idea how to use it. Before they come to us, they have a simple form to fill out to give us an idea of their current level of understanding. It helps if we know if it's a laptop or a tablet, the operating system and browser they are using. Most pick the "don't know" answer.
Usually with their eyesight and internet understanding far below that of your average teenager, we have to go back to absolute basics. If we can help someone to buy something they need from Amazon, or buy their groceries online, they are invariably thrilled.
They don't look at all the detail on the screens as it is too much to take in. They are the ones smart enough to know they need help, there must be many more who will try it and make basic mistakes because a grandchild tells them it's easy...

Nodding_Donkey

James_N wrote: »

Similar looking crisp packets are in no way in the same league as organised attempts to impersonate an official government website.

I bet the crisp market is worth a whole lot more than the scam EHIC website takes

James_N

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

I bet the crisp market is worth a whole lot more than the scam EHIC website takes

Aldi crisps and other look-alike products usually leave a nice taste in the mouth, being usually as good as (same as maybe) the "original" product, but cheaper.

Copycat websites always leave a bitter sour and very nasty taste, and are always considerably more expensive than the original.