Sunday was the last day for the online submission of income tax forms. So with this subject in the forefront of many people’s minds, the tax authorities put out a timely warning concerning an Internet scam in which people were told they were in line for a rebate, and thereby tricked into supplying the security details of the bank or credit card account into which it would allegedly be paid. In fact, of course, money would not be paid at all; instead, armed with all the information they needed, the fraudsters would simply empty the bank account or go on a spending spree until the card’s credit limit was reached.

I heard the HM Revenue & Custom’s spokesperson talking about it on the Radio 2’s 9am news bulletin. She said it was a remarkably cunning scam that it was easy to fall victim to. I knew just what she meant, because I fell victim myself . . .

Back in late November, I received an email at work purporting to come from HM Revenue & Customs. The subject box read: “Understanding and promoting tax refunds: Changes within 12 months.”

Opening up the message I found beneath an authentic official heading (easily copied, of course) a letter telling me that I was in line for a tax rebate of £600-odd. This was going to be paid into my credit card account, details of which I was invited to supply on a web page to which I was directed.

Now the thing was – and I mention this in defence of my gullible stupidity – a tax rebate was indeed due to me (in fact, the cheque arrived on Monday). My accountant had told me of this coming windfall some days before. Not pausing to consider that this would be a very odd way for it to be paid, I went on to give – fool that I was – every detail that was asked of me. Security code, the lot.

By a remarkable stroke of luck, I could not resist boasting to a colleague of my good fortune, with a useful sum on the way just in time for Christmas. Fortunately, that same colleague soon received a similar message from ‘HM Revenue & Customs’ himself. And he was not expecting a tax rebate. Within minutes, I was on to Marks & Spencer Money and was able quickly to close the credit card account. Happily, this was before the fraudsters had got around to making use of the card.

Those closest to me could not believe that I was unaware that the tax authorities – like banks and other financial institutions – would never contact anyone on a money matter in this way. But I was unaware. Please do not be as foolish as I was. You might not be so lucky . . .