10 May 2018
HM Revenue and Customs has issued a warning to taxpayers regarding the latest tax refund scams, which are targeting individuals via email and SMS messages.
As HMRC processes genuine tax refunds for the 2017/18 tax year, fraudsters are sending scam messages which claim that taxpayers are entitled to a rebate, and request that they provide their personal and account details in order to make their claim.
However, HMRC is keen to emphasise that it will only ever inform individuals of a tax refund by post or through their employer, and never via email, text messaging or voicemail.
Commenting on the issue, Treasury minister Mel Stride said, ‘We know that criminals will try and use events like the end of the financial year, the self assessment deadline, and the issuing of tax refunds to target the public and attempt to get them to reveal their personal data’.
Taxpayers are advised not to click on any links, download any attachments or provide any personal information, and to forward any suspect messages to HMRC.