New controls deployed by HMRC mean fraudsters can no longer spoof most of the department’s helpline numbers.
Scammers mimic legitimate HMRC helpline numbers (often beginning with 0300) to dupe taxpayers and steal their money and personal information.
During the last 10 months HMRC has asked for more than 1,050 numbers being used by scammers to be removed from the network.
HMRC advice
- HMRC will only ever call asking for payment on a debt that you are already aware of, having received a letter about it, or after you’ve told the department you owe tax, possibly through a Self-Assessment return.
- If in doubt, check the number and end the call. You can contact HMRC using one of the helpline numbers or online services available from GOV.UK.
- Genuine organisations like banks and HMRC will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, password or bank details.
- Don’t give out private information, reply to text messages, download attachments or click on links in emails you weren’t expecting.
- Forward details of suspicious calls and emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599, or contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Use their online fraud reporting tool if you suffer financial loss.
- Check GOV.UK for information on how to avoid and report scams and recognise genuine HMRC contact.
