HMRC warns of bogus tax refund scams
Doctors and other professionals are being alerted to be on their guard for bogus tax refund offers following January’s self-assessment tax deadline.
The HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) warned that fraudsters could set their sights on self-assessment customers who could now be taken in by an email, phone call or text message offering a tax rebate.
These phishing scams are designed to use personal details for selling on to criminals or to access people’s bank accounts.
HMRC responded to 207,800 referrals from the public of suspicious contact in the past year to January – up 14% from the 181,873 reported for 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.
Her advice is: ‘Don’t rush into anything, take your time and check HMRC scams advice on Gov.UK.’
HMRC said it would not email, text or phone a customer to tell them that 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 urged to 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 and forward suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599.