The attack took place over a period of three days starting on 30 June, according web security firm MessageLabs.

More than 33,000 emails were intercepted by MessageLabs. The message contained a link to a spoofed HMRC website which asked surfers for personal and financial information.

"There was nothing in the content of these attacks to suggest that the criminals had access to the personal data of the potential recipients," MessageLabs said.

Analysis of this latest phishing attack indicates that the same group which was responsible for targeting the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the US in recent months was involved.

A report issued earlier in the week revealed that the UK is a high priority target for Nigerian scammers, with 23 per cent of '419' scam emails ending up in British Inboxes.

www.messagelabs.com

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