Scammers hit Self-Assessments – here’s what to look for

HMRC is warning people who are filing Self-Assessment returns to be on the look out for fraudsters, after customers referred nearly 150,000 frauds to the taxman in the last year. As the January 31, 2025, deadline looms, the scammers are targeting people with tax refund offers or demanding customers make tax payments, so these criminals can get hold of your personal and banking details. Around half (71,832) of all frauds reported in the last year were associated with fake tax rebate claims, but these are not the only things for self-assessment filers to look out for. Plus, the number of frauds being perpetrated are on the rise. There was a 16.7% rise in the number of scams referred to HMRC between November 2023 and October 2024.

How can I tell if it really is HMRC contacting me?

If you are contacted by someone claiming to be HMRC, where you are being asked for your personal information or being offered a tax rebate, then you can look for advice on GOV.UK to help you identify if you are dealing with a scammer. HMRC won’t leave you voicemails threatening legal action or to arrest you, and you won’t get a text from HMRC asking you for your personal or financial information. If you receive any of these, you can assume you are being targeted by a criminal. Kelly Paterson, Chief Security Officer at HMRC, said: “With millions of people filing their Self-Assessment return before January’s deadline, we’re warning everyone to be wary of emails promising tax refunds. “Being vigilant helps you spot potential scams. And reporting anything suspicious helps us stop criminal activity and to protect you and others who could have received similar bogus communication. “Our advice remains unchanged. Don’t rush into anything, take your time and check ‘HMRC scams advice’ on GOV.UK.”

What should I do if I think I have been targeted?

If you think you have been targeted by fraudsters claiming to be HMRC, you can get in touch with the relevant departments in various ways. For example, if you have been contacted by email, a criminal activity known as ‘phishing’ then you can forward the emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. If you have received a phone call that you think is from a fraudster, you can report this on GOV.UK, and if you have any suspicious texts that claim to be from HMRC, you can forward them to 60599. You won’t be contacted by email, text or phone by HMRC to let you know you are due a refund, or to ask you to request one. Any refund due can be claimed via your online HMRC account or through the HMRC app which is secure and free to download. If you think you have had money stolen, then you should contact your bank as soon as you realise, and you can also report it to Action Fraud. In Scotland, contact the police on 101. The more each of us reports suspicious and potentially fraudulent activity, the more likely it is that you can prevent someone else becoming a victim. You can find out more information about stopping fraud at www.gov.uk/stopthinkfraud.

We can help you

If you think you may have been targeted by criminals or have been a victim of fraud, then once you have taken the immediate measures above, please contact us and we will do everything we can to assist you.