CON SPOTTED: Nicole Botting is relieved she managed to spot a scam before giving out her credit card details.

Proving there is no rest for the wicked, scamming schemes are alive and well these holidays.

Invercargill woman Nicole Botting yesterday received an email claiming she was about to get hundreds of dollars from a tax refund company.

Ms Botting said she was stoked to hear she was in for a $480 windfall.

But suspicions grew when she looked closer at the email, which asked for her credit card number and credit limit, and driver's licence details.

"That was when I thought it was a bit suss," she said.

Customers were urged to reply within 24 hours, to avoid waiting for weeks for their refund to be processed.

However, the email had links back to a legitimate company, Christchurch-based www.nztaxrefunds.co.nz, which made her think twice.

She discovered the email was a fake after phoning the company.

New Zealand Tax Refunds customer services manager Maree Rae said someone had made a mock copy of their application form, but the email was definitely a hoax.

"We have had quite a few people call (about it) ... We are well aware of it," she said.

Luckily it appeared the email had only been circulating for a day, whereas a similar one with the Inland Revenue Department logo had been around since December 29. Police would shut down the site but unfortunately it would be hard for them to track down where it came from, Ms Rae said.

Meanwhile, Ms Botting said while it was disappointing to find out the email was a scam she was glad she had taken the time to check it out.

"But I was like, damn – I wish I had it [the money]," she said.