HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has urged people to stay alert to potential scams ahead of the self assessment deadline.
The tax authority said it has received more than 135,500 reports of suspected scams since February, including 4,800 related to self assessment and 29,000 referring to fake tax refund claims.
With the latest self assessment deadline approaching on 31 January, HMRC warned taxpayers to be aware of potential scams.
Lucy Pike, HMRC’s chief security officer, said:
“Millions of people file a tax return each year and scammers mimic HMRC to try and catch unsuspecting victims out.
“I’m urging people to stay vigilant and if any emails, text messages or phone calls appear suspicious – don’t be lured into clicking on links or sharing your personal information – report it directly to HMRC.”
HMRC said it will never:
- leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest
- ask for personal or financial information via text message or email
- contact people by email, text, or phone to inform them about a refund or ask them to claim one
If you receive suspicious communication claiming to be from HMRC, you can forward emails to [email protected], SMS messages to 60599 and report phone calls on GOV.UK.
Find out more about how to report scam activity here and advice on cyber security here.