The scam text currently making the rounds says the receiver is due a tax refund worth £276.74 from the 2020-21 tax year.
A HMRC text warning issued has been issued as people in the UK are told they are owed a £277 tax refund. The scam text currently making the rounds says the receiver is due a tax refund worth £276.74 from the 2020-21 tax year.
The message then provides a link that encourages the text receiver to click. Warning on Twitter/X, the Fraud Advisory Panel said: “Did you just get a suspicious text or email from HMRC? STOP! Don’t click any links; instead, use a trusted URL to log into your gov gateway.”
On its website, HMRC warns: “Use the online form to tell HMRC if you’ve received a phone call you do not think is genuine. You’ll need to give your email address. We may share your email address and phone number with other organisations to close down the scam.”
You can also forward suspicious emails to HMRC’s phishing team at phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. “HMRC will never send notifications of a tax rebate or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email,” the government body goes on to warn.
It says: “We may share your email address and phone number with other organisations to close down the scam.” Suspicious text messages are also causing HMRC a concern as we head further away from Christmas and into the New Year.
HMRC adds: “Forward suspicious text messages to 60599. Text messages will be charged at your network rate. HMRC will never send notifications of a tax rebate or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by text message.
“We may share your email address and phone number with other organisations to close down the scam.” Use descriptions of emails, phone calls, letters and text messages recently issued by HMRC to help you decide if a contact is genuine or a scam from a fraudster trying to get your personal information.
The lists are on the government website but not every HMRC communication is included.
Source: HMRC ‘stop’ warning as UK households told they’re owed £277 refund (msn.com)