HMRC issues urgent scam warning

21 November 2019

With the self-assessment tax return deadline of 31st January fast approaching, HMRC is warning people to be careful and wary of potential scams. There have been almost 900,000 reports of people impersonating HMRC and trying to obtain taxpayers’ personal details via telephone calls, texts and emails.

The most common technique used by fraudsters is calling taxpayers offering a fake tax refund and asking for bank details.  Another technique is receiving a text or email supposedly from HMRC with a link, which takes victims to a false page, where their bank details and money will be stolen.

HMRC will never contact customers asking for their PIN, password or bank details.

Forward suspicious emails and details of suspicious phone calls to HMRC’s phishing team:
phishing@hmrc.gov.uk

Forward suspicious text messages to 60599. Text messages will be charged at your network rate.

If HMRC needs to contact you about anything confidential they’ll reply by phone or post.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/reporting-fraudulent-emails