HMRC issues scam warning to tax credits customers
HMRC has issued a warning to tax credits customers, who are renewing their tax credits claims, to be alert to scammers trying to steal their information.
Tax credit claimants should be on their guard against fraudsters, as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) warns of the latest tactics being employed by scammers.
HMRC has issued a new alert, providing details of a number of new scams reported that aim to trick people into handing over money or personal information. Criminals use deadlines 바카라 사이트“ like the tax credits renewal deadline on 31 July 바카라 사이트“ to target their victims and the department is warning around 1.5 million tax credits customers to be alert to scams that mimic government communications to make them appear genuine.
Typical scam examples include:
- emails or texts claiming an individual바카라 사이트™s details aren바카라 사이트™t up to date and that they risk losing out on payments that are due to them
- emails or texts claiming that a direct debit payment hasn바카라 사이트™t 바카라 사이트˜gone through바카라 사이트™
- phone calls threatening arrest if people don바카라 사이트™t immediately pay fake tax owed
- claims that the victim바카라 사이트™s national insurance number has been used in fraud
- emails or texts offering spurious tax rebates or bogus grants or support
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC바카라 사이트™s Director General for Customer Services, said:
Tax scams come in many forms and we바카라 사이트™re urging customers to be alert to the tactics used by fraudsters and never to let yourselves be rushed. If someone contacts you saying they바카라 사이트™re from HMRC and asks you to give personal information or urgently transfer money, be on your guard. Search 바카라 사이트˜HMRC scams바카라 사이트™ advice on 바카라 사이트 to find out how to report scams and help us fight these crimes.
Scam messages can be convincing, and individuals may be pressured into make rushed decisions. HMRC will never ring anyone out of the blue making threats or asking them to transfer money.
Visit 바카라 사이트 for information on how to report a scam or suspicious activity.
According to the National Cyber Security Centre, HMRC was the third most spoofed government body in 2022, behind the NHS and TV Licensing. HMRC is also urging tax credits customers to be alert to misleading websites or adverts asking them to pay for government services which are free, often by charging for a connection to HMRC helplines.
HMRC is currently sending out tax credits renewal packs to customers and is reminding anyone who has not received theirs to wait until after 15 June before contacting HMRC.
Customers can renew their tax credits for free via 바카라 사이트 or the HMRC app. Help and support is available on 바카라 사이트 to help renew tax credits claim.
HMRC has a video explaining how tax credits customers can use the HMRC app to view, manage and update their details.
By the end of 2024, tax credits will be replaced by Universal Credit. Customers who receive tax credits will receive a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) telling them when to claim Universal Credit. It is important that customers claim by the deadline shown in the letter to continue receiving financial support as their tax credits will end even if they decide not to claim Universal Credit.
The government is offering . Check 바카라 사이트 to find out what cost of living support individuals could be eligible for.
HMRC is also warning people not to share their HMRC login details with anyone else. Someone using these could steal from the account owner or make a fraudulent claim in their name and leave customers having to pay back the full value of any fraudulent repayment claim made on their behalf.
Further information
Find out more about renewing tax credits claims.
Customers can download the HMRC app for free from their smartphone app store.
In the last year, to April 2023 HMRC has:
- responded to 170,234 referrals of suspicious contact from the public. Of these, 68,437 offered bogus tax rebates
- worked with the telecoms industry and Ofcom to remove 212 phone numbers being used to commit HMRC-related phone scams
- responded to 58,186 reports of phone scams in total. In April 2020 we received reports of only 425 phone scams
- reported 26,922 malicious web pages for takedown
HMRC바카라 사이트™s advice:
Protect
- criminals are cunning - protect your information
- take a moment to think before parting with your money or information
- use strong and different passwords on all your accounts so criminals are less able to target you
Recognise
- if a phone call, text or email is suspicious or unexpected, don바카라 사이트™t give out private information or reply, and don바카라 사이트™t download attachments or click on links
- check on 바카라 사이트 that the contact is genuinely from HMRC
- do not trust caller ID on phones. Numbers can be spoofed
Report
- if you바카라 사이트™re unsure about a text claiming to be from HMRC forward it to 60599, or an email to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Report a tax scam phone call on 바카라 사이트
- contact your bank immediately if you바카라 사이트™ve had money stolen, and report it to . In Scotland, contact the police on 101
- by reporting phishing emails, you help stop criminal activity and prevent other people falling victim