At this time of year, many individuals and businesses are focused on making their tax payments on account. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when scammers are particularly active, posing as HMRC in increasingly sophisticated attempts to steal money or personal information.
What do these scams look like?
Fraudsters use a variety of tactics to catch people off guard – emails, text messages, WhatsApps, and phone calls are the most common. These communications will typically:
- Request payment of an unexpected or overdue tax bill
- Provide links to fake HMRC portals
- Ask for personal or banking information under the pretence of ‘verifying’ your account
Some scams are relatively easy to spot – poor grammar, strange email addresses, suspicious links. But others look highly professional, often mimicking official HMRC branding or referencing real tax deadlines to add credibility.
What’s at risk?
Responding to these scams could lead to:
- Loss of money through fraudulent payments
- Identity theft from sharing personal or financial details
- Data breaches through malware if you click on links or open attachments
Our advice? Be cautious.
Unless you are 100% confident of the source, treat any unexpected contact claiming to be from HMRC with suspicion. If in doubt, speak to us. It’s always better to take a moment to check than to risk being caught out.
How to stay safe:
- Never click links in unsolicited communications.
- Do not share personal details via email, text, or over the phone unless you’ve initiated the contact.
- Log in directly to your HMRC account to verify any tax liabilities or payment requests.
If you receive a suspicious message, you can forward it to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.
Remember:
HMRC will never ask for personal or financial information via email or text message. They will also not threaten you with legal action or arrest over the phone.
If you’re unsure whether something you’ve received is genuine, please speak to your Wilson Partners advisor. We’re here to help keep you and your business safe.
