Fraudsters could access your bank account via tax refund scam - 200,000 targeted by ‘suspicious’ messages
HMRC is urging people to beware of fake tax refund emails after 200,000 people reported suspicious messages
HMRC | GETTY
Criminals are trying to get access to bank accounts by posing as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and falsely claiming Britons can get money back from the taxman.
Tens of thousands of people have been targeted by scammers offering a bogus tax refund offer.
The tax department said it has responded to 207,800 referrals from the public of suspicious contact in the past year to January – up 14 per cent from the 181,873 reported for the previous 12 months.
More than 79,000 of these referrals offered bogus tax rebates.
HMRC shared an example of a scam email which tries to steal innocent people's personal and financial details
HMRC
In one example of suspicious messages being sent to unsuspecting victims, criminals address the recipient and inform them they have an “important message” for them.
The criminal claimed they had a new message regarding their personal tax return updates.
Within the email, which uses HMRC and Gov.uk branding despite being entirely fake, recipients are guided to click a link.
To try and dupe victims, the message seems authoritative, and directs them to log into their HMRC services account, “navigate to the ‘Messages’ section” and “Select the ‘Making Tax Digital for Personal Tax Return’ notification”.
It proceeds to include a link, but this takes the recipient to an entirely fake website which aims to steal personal and financial information.
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.
“Don’t rush into anything, take your time and check HMRC scams advice on GOV.UK.”
HMRC warned taxpayers who completed their Self Assessment tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year before the deadline last month could be taken in by the scam offering a tax rebate.
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HMRC says it will not email, text or phone customers to inform them about a tax refund, or ask them to request one
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These fake messages are phishing scams designed to steal personal details and sell them to criminals, or to access people’s bank accounts.
They could come in the form of an email, phone call, or text message.
HMRC has reiterated that the department will not email, text or phone a customer to inform them they are due a refund or to ask them to request a refund.
Taxpayers will get any repayments owed into their chosen bank account and can see any transactions in their online HMRC account and in the HMRC app.
HMRC says suspicious communications should be reported by forwarding the emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.
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