Investment - Articles - Warning after thousands of self assessment scams reported

Laura Suter, Director of Personal Finance at AJ Bell, comments: "With the new year fast approaching, many people will be filing their tax return ahead of the 31 January deadline. With that deadline creeping ever closer, HMRC has confirmed that 4,800 self-assessment scams have been reported since February. More widely, HMRC has been alerted to more than 135,500 suspected scams targeting its customers in this period. The extension of frozen tax thresholds announced in the Budget will continue to force more people into the tax return trap. A record-breaking number of people have filed self-assessment returns in recent years, which scammers are clearly using to their advantage by targeting those who may not be familiar with the process.”  

 

Tax refund scams continue to target taxpayers  

“Of the scams reported to HMRC since February, just over a fifth were scams relating to fake tax refund claims. HMRC says it has closed down nearly 25,000 fake websites and phone numbers in the past 10 months, but these figures show that a large number of scams continue to circulate. Anyone filing their tax returns should be vigilant of messages that claim to be from the HMRC and report communications that could be suspicious. With the self-assessment filing deadline just over a month away, people will start to feel a sense of urgency to ensure they submit their claim on time but it’s important not to be tricked by scammers targeting people who are rushing and more susceptible to pressure tactics.”  

 

How to spot a scam   

Be alert to scams and the tricks fraudsters use to catch us all out. Examples include threatening, often automated, voicemails asking for personal information, or suspicious emails and text messages offering you a refund.  

HMRC has confirmed it will not ask for personal information or offer refunds by text message and emails, and has urged taxpayers to report any scam communications they received to prevent others being targeted.    

 

If you receive a message that doesn’t look right, you should check government scams advice and report it directly to HMRC. Emails can be forwarded to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599.