If you receive an email with a subject that reads “You have received new messages from HMRC”, that also has an attachment, please do not open the attachment but forward the email to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete it.
HMRC will never ask for any personal details, or financial information over emails or text messages.
In the past 12 months, more than 20,000 fake websites run by fraudsters pretending to be HMRC have been shut down. To tackle the rise in scams going forward, HMRC have launched DMARC (Domain-Based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance) to prevent phishing emails sent by impersonators reaching taxpayers. In addition to email scams, a text message scam offering a tax refund is alarmingly common.
Please be aware of these cons! We have had multiple clients contact us recently saying they have received an automated message telephone call claiming to be HMRC. The message warns that they are under HMRC investigation and they must call the number given or face serious legal consequences. This is a scam and should be ignored.
For more advice on scams, phishing and genuine HMRC contact, please visit GOV.UK and search ‘phishing’.
