Beware and be wise…
Sadly, not everything is always as it seems and it’s important in our digital age to be aware of scams and suspicious activity. Even the most official looking communications can be cleverly created traps designed to tempt you to click, call or provide confidential information. It appears that scammers are particularly keen on using HMRC as their guise to trick recipients into falling for their deceit.
This type of 21st century fraudulent activity can be hard to identify, particularly amongst the many genuine digital messages we all receive on a daily basis. That’s why, our shrewd and savvy team here at Ellacott Morris would like to make you aware of the following common scams and things to look out for…
A frequent offender has to be the ‘You have a tax refund’ scam. Usually sent as a text message, claiming that HMRC owe you money, this tactic often asks you to click a web link to find out more or see how much you might be owed. On occasion, the message may mention that ‘You’re owed a COVID-19 tax refund’. This is NOT something HMRC would ever send you! HMRC may send you messages via text but any web links would be to their official website at gov.uk and their messages would never ask you to provide any personal information. If you’re unsure if a text message is from HMRC or not, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and double check before acting on any requests. You can check with HMRC via phishing@hmrc.gov.uk to see if your message is legitimate or a scam. If you identify any text scams, always delete the message once you’ve reported it.
You could also receive an email communication that looks like it’s from HMRC, possibly including their logo, branding, address and other ‘genuine’ information. The hook for this common HMRC email scam is often the suggestion of a tax refund or rebate, or sometimes it might suggest that ‘Your new tax calculation is ready’. If HMRC do owe you a tax rebate, rest assured that they won’t send you an email to notify you of this. Therefore, if an email asking you to click on a link, open an attachment or respond with personal information should appear in your inbox, the only action you need to take is to report it to HMRC and then delete it from your system.
HMRC is also aware of companies that offer to claim tax refunds or rebates on your behalf. These companies are not connected to HMRC in any way and therefore it is recommended that anyone considering these services does so with extreme caution, reading all the small print in any agreements.
Scammers work beyond the realms of text messages and emails. HMRC has also identified scams on social media platforms too. X (formerly Twitter) was a medium used for direct messages offering tax refunds. HMRC would not use a direct message (DM), on any social media platform to notify you of a rebate or refund. This is another example of a scam attempt that should be reported and deleted.
Taking it to another level, scammers have even devised automated systems using phone calls to lure taxpayers into handing over personal details over the phone. These calls may be automated, with a ‘press 1’ option to kickstart the process. You may be asked for information such as your National Insurance (NI) number or bank details. This is when your alarm bells should start ringing. Please do report any calls of this nature.
It’s really important to report any scams that you identify, even if it’s something you’ve seen before. You can find out more about how to report any concerns at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/reporting-fraudulent-emails
It’s also good to share your knowledge and make as many people aware of these phishing tricks as possible. Often people avoid falling for scams because someone took the time to make to them aware of the dangers lurking in their inbox. Make sure you tell everyone you heard it here first!
On a more positive note, HMRC does use many of these channels of communications to genuinely reach taxpayers and not everything you receive is necessarily suspicious. Particularly in light of the forthcoming changes to Making Tax Digital (MTD), (please see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-tax-digital), digital communication from HMRC is more prevalent than ever before. For example, HMRC does have a WhatsApp broadcast channel you can subscribe to, and they do have official (please note the blue tick next to their name) social media channels too.
HMRC uses QR codes in its letters, which will always take you to an official part of the gov.uk website but never ask you to input any personal information!
Please, please beware and be wise – and if you’re unsure or worried about anything you’ve received, clicked on or submitted, contact HMRC or reach out to a member of our team for advice.
