As the Self Assessment deadline approaches, HMRC have issued a stark warning about a surge in scam activity. 

Fraudsters are targeting individuals with fake offers of tax refunds or urgent payment demands in an attempt to steal personal and banking information from them. 

How serious is the HMRC scam threat?

Between November 2023 and October 2024, more than 144,000 scam referrals were received by HMRC. That’s a staggering 16.7% increase from the previous year! So it’s clear that the HMRC scam threat is only growing. 

Kelly Paterson, Chief Security Officer at HMRC, cautioned taxpayers:

“With millions filing their returns before January’s deadline, we’re urging everyone to be vigilant. Bogus emails and texts offering tax refunds are common traps. Don’t rush—verify the legitimacy of any communication claiming to be from HMRC.”

How do you recognise a HMRC scam?

HMRC emphasized that they will never contact individuals via email, text, or phone to announce refunds or request personal details. Refunds can only be claimed securely through an individual’s HMRC online account or app.

To protect yourself:

• Forward suspicious emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.
• Report scam phone calls via GOV.UK.
• Send fraudulent text messages to 60599.

For more guidance, we recommend checking out our comprehensive guide to identifying and dealing with HMRC scam letters. But the key thing is to stay alert and report suspected scams. It’s better to be over cautious than to make a costly error.