Alert issued for emerging scam
Fraudulent Tax Debt Emails Circulating Under Universum Inkasso GmbH Name
A warning has been issued about fraudulent payment demands being sent via email, purporting to be from the debt collection company Universum Inkasso GmbH, claiming outstanding tax office debts. These emails are part of a scam aimed at deceiving victims into transferring money, often to foreign bank accounts.
However, it's important to note that Universum Inkasso GmbH is a legitimate company, but its identity is being misused by fraudsters to appear credible. Genuine debt collection companies in Germany must be registered in the official legal service registry, demonstrate legal expertise, a clean criminal record, relevant experience, and often participate in industry codes of conduct like that of the BDIU.
If you receive a suspicious payment demand allegedly from Universum Inkasso GmbH about tax debts, it's crucial to verify its authenticity independently. You can do this by contacting either the official tax office or the company directly through verified contact details before taking any action.
Here are some key points to remember:
- The tax office will never ask for payments via email.
- Any additional demands will be delivered via mail or electronically to your ELSTER mailbox.
- The attachment in the email may contain malware and should not be opened.
- The payment demand is not confirmed to be authentic by the tax office.
- 'Universum Inkasso GmbH' is not affiliated with the tax office.
- If you receive a suspicious email, report it to the tax office and local authorities.
- Reminders will be sent via the State Treasury by mail.
- Payment demands will not be sent via your ELSTER mailbox.
- The tax offices do not send emails for payment demands.
- The payment demand is currently being investigated by authorities.
- The email containing the payment demand should be ignored.
Business owners are advised to be cautious of the payment demand and verify all payment demands before making payments. If a taxpayer receives a suspicious payment demand, they should report it to the tax office and local authorities. The Bremen Finance Department has also clarified that the Bremen and Bremerhaven tax offices do not use debt collection agencies.
Stay vigilant and always verify the authenticity of any payment demands before taking action. If you're unsure, it's always better to err on the side of caution and contact the relevant authorities for clarification.
Business owners engaging in general-news should be vigilant of fraudulent payment demands, especially those purporting to be from debt collection companies such as Universum Inkasso GmbH. It's imperative for business owners in the crime-and-justice sector to independently verify the authenticity of any payment demands, as the tax office will never ask for payments via email.
