Industry News - 25th July 2023
As the 31 July deadline for submitting tax credits renewal information approaches, HMRC is warning customers to be aware of fraudulent messages claiming to be from HMRC.
The alert has been issued to around 1.5 million tax credits customers to raise their awareness of scams that mimic government communications to make them appear genuine. In the 12 months to 30 April 2023, HMRC responded to more than 170,234 referrals of suspicious contact from the public. More than 68,437 of these offered bogus tax rebates.
Typical scam examples include:
- emails or texts claiming an individual’s details aren’t up to date and that they risk losing out on payments that are due to them;
- emails or texts claiming that a direct debit payment hasn’t ‘gone through’;
- phone calls threatening arrest if people don’t immediately pay fake tax owed;
- claims that the victim’s National Insurance number has been used in fraud; and
- emails or texts offering tax rebates or bogus grants or support.
HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:
‘Tax scams come in many forms and we’re urging customers to be alert to the tactics used by fraudsters and never to let yourselves be rushed. If someone contacts you saying they’re from HMRC and asks you to give personal information or urgently transfer money, be on your guard. Search ‘HMRC scams’ advice on GOV.UK to find out how to report scams and help us fight these crimes.’
In our last email we reported on text message guidance, including a list of genuine text messages issued by HMRC.
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