HMRC Scams
HMRC is warning people to be wary of bogus tax refund offers, explaining that taxpayers who completed their tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year on time, could be taken in by messages offering a tax rebate.
HMRC responded to 207,800 referrals from the public of suspicious contact in the past year to January 2024 – up 14% from the 181,873 reported for the previous 12 months. More than 79,000 of those referrals offered bogus tax rebates.
Kelly Paterson, HMRC’s Chief Security Officer, said: “With the deadline for tax returns behind us, criminals will now try to trick people with fake offers of tax rebates. Scammers will attempt to dupe people by email, phone or texts that mimic Government messages to make them appear authentic. HMRC will not email, text or phone a customer to tell them that they are due a refund or ask them to request a refund. Customers receive repayments into their chosen bank account and can see any transactions in their online HMRC account and in the HMRC app.”
You can report any suspicious communications to HMRC by:
• Forwarding emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk
• Reporting tax scam phone calls to HMRC on GOV.UK
• Forwarding suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599
In the last year to January, HMRC also reported 26,443 malicious web pages to internet service providers to be taken down. This is a 29% increase from the 20,385 referred by HMRC for removal the previous year.
If you’re worried at all, please do call us on tel: 01892 513515.