Urgent warning from the tax department about HMRC scam letters

After a social media user shared images of a sophisticated fraudulent letter, HMRC issued an urgent scam alert. 

HMRC warned in reply, “We’re aware of a new scam letter, asking customers to ‘verify’ their ‘financial information’ via email.” The letter itself is fairly convincing, containing several things you would expect a genuine HMRC letter to have, including genuine HMRC team details and links. 

What was in the HMRC scam letter?

The letter states that the individual is being contacted as part of a government initiative to verify declared income. And that the individual must submit certain documents to ensure compliance and transparency. 

It goes on to explain, “This is so we can identify businesses that are not declaring their full income and to prevent tax evasion and fraud.” Following the Chancellor’s announcement, many individuals might be duped into believing it. 

What do you do if you suspect a tax letter isn’t genuine?

As tax-related scams become increasingly sophisticated, both individuals and businesses must remain vigilant. At Crunch, we recommend that clients take the following steps to protect themselves:

• Verify sources - always double-check the sender’s information, especially when receiving unsolicited requests for financial details.
• Never click on links or visit links included - whether you’re receiving an email or a letter, never visit websites listed for unfamiliar or unexpected contact.
• Always report suspicious letters or emails to HMRC and consult with your accountants before taking action.

By staying informed and cautious, you can help protect yourself and your business from falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated scams.

Need more help with determining if it’s a scam letter?

If you’re still not sure whether a letter is genuine, you can get in touch with HMRC directly to verify the correspondence. 

You’ll also find more information here on how to check if you’ve received an HMRC scam letter or not. It even includes a link to view genuine HMRC contact that uses more than one communication method.

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