Fake Tax Office Scams in Malta
Fraudsters impersonate Malta's Commissioner for Revenue to demand urgent tax payments from residents and businesses under threat of legal action.
Part of: Fake Tax Office Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Phone and email impersonation of Malta's tax authority — the Commissioner for Revenue (CFR) — has been reported with increasing regularity. Callers claim that the victim has unpaid income tax, VAT, or stamp duty and faces imminent legal proceedings or asset freezes unless immediate payment is made.
Malta's self-employed population, small business owners, and property investors are particularly targeted, given that these groups have more complex tax relationships with the CFR and may be more susceptible to anxiety about unexpected tax demands.
How this scam works on Malta
A call arrives claiming to be from the CFR or the VAT Department. The caller provides a case reference and states that unpaid tax liabilities have triggered a legal notice. Payment by direct bank transfer must be made immediately to avoid court action.
Email variants send official-looking demand notices with a link to a spoofed CFR portal that harvests banking credentials. Some callers spoof the CFR's published phone numbers to make the call appear genuine on the recipient's screen.
The scam targets the self-employed and landlords particularly around the March–June income tax filing season.
Common red flags
- An unexpected call from 'the CFR' demands immediate bank-transfer payment to avoid legal action.
- The demand is for immediate payment with no opportunity to review documentation.
- Email links lead to sites that are not the official cfr.gov.mt domain.
- The caller refuses to provide written documentation or an official reference number.
- Payment is requested to a private bank account rather than an official government account.
How to protect yourself
- Hang up and call the CFR directly on its published number to verify any claimed debt.
- All legitimate CFR demands arrive in writing — phone-only payment demands are fraudulent.
- Access your tax account only through the official cfr.gov.mt portal.
- Never pay tax debts to a private account — government payments go to official treasury accounts.
- Consult a registered Maltese accountant (perit or warranted accountant) if in doubt.
How to report it
- Report the impersonation to the CFR so they can issue public warnings.
- File a complaint with Malta Police Force.
- Report phishing emails to MITA (Malta Information Technology Agency).
Frequently asked questions
I'm self-employed in Malta and got a call about a VAT discrepancy — how do I check without panicking?
Hang up and log into your account directly at cfr.gov.mt to review your actual filing and payment status. If something genuinely appears outstanding, call the CFR's published number or consult a warranted accountant before paying.
The caller's number matched the CFR's published phone number — how is that possible?
Phone numbers can be spoofed to display any number, including a real government office's published line, which is why caller ID should never be treated as verification. Call the CFR back yourself using a number you look up independently.
I'm a landlord in Malta worried about unexpected rental income tax demands — what's the safest response to an urgent call?
Don't engage with payment requests over the phone under any circumstances. Ask for a written reference number, hang up, and verify independently through cfr.gov.mt — genuine CFR debts are always documented in writing with a reasonable response period.
Does the Maltese Commissioner for Revenue ever call and demand immediate payment?
No. The CFR issues formal written notices with official reference numbers and provides a reasonable response period. Any phone call demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest is fraudulent.