HM Revenue and Customs is warning people not to be taken in by bogus tax refund offers which might come via email, phone call, or text message, saying they’re just attempts to gather personal details for selling on to criminals, or to access people’s bank accounts.
HMRC responded to more tan 200,000 referrals from the public of suspicious contact in the year to January – up 14% from 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. Don’t rush into anything, take your time and check HMRC scams advice on GOV.UK.”
She added that HMRC would not email, text or phone a customer to tell them 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.
Customers are asked to help fight phishing scams by reporting any suspicious communications to HMRC:
- forward emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk
- report tax scam phone calls to HMRC on GOV.UK
- forward suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599
