Taxpayers are being warned as HMRC scams continue to wreak havoc on household budgets. Personal finance expert Rebecca Bebbington has highlighted some of the new and concerning methods currently being used, which could be easily mistaken for correspondence or services from the real HMRC. But it doesn’t cost a penny to protect yourself.
Bogus Letters
Getting an HMRC letter usually sets people’s hearts pounding, the fact that it could also be a scam may set off even more anxiety. The NetVoucherCodes expert explained how to spot a potential fake.
She said: “Some people have reported receiving letters claiming they’ve overpaid tax and are due a refund. These letters sometimes come with fake HMRC letterheads and a reply form asking for your bank account info or even copies of ID to ‘confirm your claim’.
“But HMRC doesn’t ask for this level of personal detail through the post, especially not copies of ID or full card details. Still unsure? Ring HMRC directly to confirm whether the letter is genuine.”
Social media
One of the newest methods involves fraudsters posing as fake ‘tax experts’ and ‘refund agents’ on social media claiming they can “unlock hidden rebates from HMRC”. They may promise some quick cash for you in exchange for a small fee or cut from your refund.
Rebecca warned: “They’re often unregulated, unqualified, and in some cases, outright fraudsters. Some will ask for your HMRC login details (a huge red flag), while others will file dodgy claims on your behalf, leaving you liable when HMRC comes knocking. Rule of thumb: if someone slides into your DMs offering a miracle refund, it’s almost certainly a scam.”
If you want to check whether the person is legitimate, the Gov.uk website has a list of all registered tax agents. But the expert advised: “Never share your login credentials with anyone.”
Robocalls
In the age of AI, robocalls and screening assistants are becoming more popular and this newer scam technique takes advantage of this. It starts with a robotic call telling you that HMRC is “taking legal action” or “a warrant is out for your arrest”.
It may prompt you to press a number to speak to someone, with the adrenaline pumping in your system the scammers are hoping you’ll make vital mistakes here, paying fake fines or handing over sensitive details to try get the issue sorted as quickly as possible.
But Rebecca highlighted: “HMRC does not call people this way. They don’t send the police round if you miss a letter. If you get one of these calls, hang up immediately. Don’t engage, don’t press anything, and don’t give them the satisfaction of a reply. If you’re unsure, call HMRC yourself on 0300 200 3300.”
Fake summons and arrests
Similar to the robocalls, these scammers might send a WhatsApp message or email claiming legal action has been taken and may have a PDF attached titled something along the lines of “summons” or “final warnings” with fake HMRC branding to ramp up the pressure.
Rebecca assured: “It’s pure intimidation. HMRC doesn’t threaten legal action via WhatsApp or email, and they certainly don’t send out arrest notices. If you’re ever worried a message might be genuine, contact HMRC directly using their verified numbers, but don’t click on or respond to these messages. Delete and report them.”
Classic scam calls, emails and texts
Among these new threats, age-old scam tactics are still in use such as emailing, texting or calling you from a seemingly official account saying your details need to be confirmed, you’re due a rebate or your details and accounts have been compromised.
These correspondences often have links with a message of urgency for you to click on it, Rebecca explained: “That link usually takes you to a fake HMRC website that looks convincing enough to fool most people.
“From there, you’ll be asked for personal info such as bank details, date of birth, and even your NI number, all under the guise. The page is fake, designed purely to capture your login and security answers. Once scammers have that, they can access your real tax account and commit fraud in your name.”
In other cases, fraudsters may try to convince you your money is in danger and that it needs to be transferred to a “safe account” while they investigate. Rebecca warned: “Don’t fall for it. Your NI number can’t be “suspended” or frozen. HMRC certainly won’t ask you to move money. If you get a call like this, hang up immediately.”
The expert urged people to forward suspected phishing emails to [email protected] so the authorities can track the scammers. And to only use the official Gov.uk website, through their browser not links sent to them, to use their personal tax account.
She added: “If you’re ever unsure whether something is real, go straight to the source: open a new browser tab and go directly to gov.uk. Never trust the links in emails unless you’re absolutely certain where they came from.”
