The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority on September issued a warning after reports of scammers trying to target bank customers over VAT refunds.

In response to reports that some bank customers have received emails from unidentified sources impersonating banks and financial institutions requesting personal data in the promise of helping them claim VAT refunds, the FTA reaffirmed that they can only be processed through its official website.

The authority said that some recipients have been asked to provide personal data, including names, credit card numbers, and PIN codes, claiming that providing the information will allow them to recover VAT.

“Refunding taxes for legally eligible applicants is a direct transaction between the registered business and the FTA, and does not call for any intermediaries,” it said in a statement.

“The process is completed via advanced electronic systems, available on the FTA’s official website, which includes security features for financial transactions. It is done through official channels using the International Bank Account Number (IBAN), and via systems under the authority of – and electronically linked to – the UAE Central Bank.”

The FTA warned all registered businesses, calling on them to remain vigilant and maintain the confidentiality of their personal data.