Austria's Ministry of Finance warns businesses about phishing emails impersonating FinanzOnline data update requests

Austria's Ministry of Finance has issued a warning to entrepreneurs about a rising number of fraudulent emails sent in its name that attempt to capture business and payment data via linked fake websites. The emails claim that company data stored in FinanzOnline must be checked and updated and direct recipients to an online form, but the hyperlink leads to a counterfeit site designed to look like FinanzOnline and prompts users to enter personal details and payment information. The ministry says the messages and linked webpages are forgeries, notes that official communications are issued as formal notices delivered by post or to the FinanzOnline Databox, and reiterates that it never requests passwords, credit card details or bank account information; recipients are advised not to follow instructions, not to click links or open files, not to disclose any personal data, and to delete such messages immediately.