HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is warning people to be aware of a new scam email offering a fake tax refund. HMRC is urging anyone who receives the email, which prompts the recipient to provide personal and financial details, not to respond to it.
The ongoing cost of living crisis continues to put additional pressure on households to make budgets stretch amid soaring energy bills, double-digit inflation and higher prices on the high street. Many people may wrongly believe the email is a genuine email from the HMRC and an easy way to track down missing cash owed to them, but it’s callous crooks trying to capitalise on the current economic climate.
The warning came in a post from the official HMRC Twitter account and said: “A new scam email claiming to be from HMRC and offering a fake ‘tax refund’ has been detected. The email asks you to provide personal and financial details. Do not respond, this is a SCAM.”
The tweet also encourages anyone who receives the email to report it on GOV.UK here.
Report a fake HMRC email
You can forward details of suspicious emails to HMRC’s phishing team here: phishing@hmrc.gov.uk
HMRC guidance advises: “To help us deal with your email as quickly as possible, you should give details of what you’re reporting in the subject line (for example ‘Suspicious email address’).”
It also states that HMRC will never send notifications of a tax rebate or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email.
It also adds: “We may share your email address and phone number with other organisations to close down the scam.”
Report suspicious text messages
You can forward suspicious text messages to 60599, these messages will be charged at your network rate.
HMRC will never send notifications of a tax rebate or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by text message.
To keep up to date with the latest cost of living news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out daily, Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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