Warning over HMRC scams as fraudsters target people ahead of self-assessment tax deadline
People are being left recorded messages warning them that they owe thousands of pounds in tax and that they could face legal action if they don't pay up
SCAMMERS pretending to be from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are trying to intimidate people into parting with thousands of pounds.
In this latest twist on the so-called “HMRC scam,” fraudsters claiming to be from the organisation, are leaving recorded messages on people's phones.
In these messages they warn that people owe thousands of pounds in tax and threaten “legal consequences” if they fail to pay up.
According to tech comparison site and security specialist, Comparitech, in one case, a person who was targeted was asked to pay £3,000 and told the figure would increase if they didn’t make the payment immediately.
In a pre-recorded message from scammers obtained by Comparitech and posted on its site, an automated voice says: “The issue at hand is extremely sensitive.
"If you do not call us back – or we do not hear from your solicitors – then get ready to face the legal consequences.”
How to protect yourself against scammers
HERE are some tips to help you stay safe:
- Genuine organisations, such as banks and HMRC, will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, password or bank details.
- Never give out private information, reply to text messages, download attachments, or click on links in emails you weren’t expecting.
- Note that scammers often try to instil a sense of urgency to pressure people into acting quickly. HMRC and other official organisations will never make threats over the phone or email that require immediate action.
- Always report a scam to so someone else doesn’t fall victim. Be sure to include details such as the caller’s phone number, date of the call, and a brief description of the content.
- Contact your bank or credit card provider immediately if money has been fraudulently taken from your account or wrongly spent in your name.
With many self-employed workers and other self-assessment taxpayers rushing to file their tax returns for the 2017-18 tax year ahead of the January 31 deadline, there are fears some of those targeted could fall victim.
If you do receive such a message, the official advice is to ignore it.
A HMRC spokesperson said: “We’ll only ever call you asking for payment on a debt that you are already aware of, either having received a letter about it, or after you’ve told us you owe some tax – for example, through a self-assessment return.”
Aside from this con, there are a host of different phone, text, and email HMRC scams which try to trick unsuspecting victims.
A common scam involves fraudsters calling or emailing to offer a tax refund and asking you to provide your bank or credit card details.
If you’re in doubt about the authenticity of any call or message claiming to be from HMRC, you should hang up and contact HMRC using one of its official numbers – or online services available from Gov.uk.
You can report any concerns to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting .
You can forward any suspicious emails claiming to be from HMRC to [email protected] and texts to 60599.
MORE ON MONEY
The Sun has revealed how people have been conned out of large amounts of cash, including a landscape gardener who lost nearly £10,000 when scammers pretended to be from HMRC.
You can also listen to the scary HMRC scam where fraudsters claim there's a warrant out for your arrest.
Meanwhile, from January 31 new rules are being introduced that will make it easier for victims to get cash back from fraudsters.
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