There were a record number of fraudsters targeting taxpayers with scam emails, texts and calls in the run up to the deadline for submission of self-assessment returns for 2020-21. HMRC received more than 570,000 reports over the last year about suspicious HMRC contacts.
You may have received a call too? The scams were telling taxpayers that they were due a fake tax rebate or tax refund from HMRC and asking for bank details in order to send the fake tax refund.
What is HMRC doing about this?
HMRC have a dedicated customer protection team to identify these scams and shut them down. The team identifies suspect emails before they reach the taxpayer and since 2017, these controls put in place have prevented 500 million emails being sent to taxpayers. However, fraudsters are adopting new methods to circumvent this.
We discuss this with our clients so that they can recognise the signs of fraud and avoid becoming victims themselves. For example, organisations like HMRC and banks will never contact customers asking for their PIN, password or bank details.
If you think that you have received a suspicious email claiming to be from HMRC, please forward this to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Suspect texts should be sent to 60599 and there is a form on Gov.uk that can be used to report suspicious phone calls.
If you have any questions around self-assessment scams, then please get in touch.