Scammers are increasingly skilled at deceiving individuals, often using letters, texts, or emails that seem to come from HMRC and frequently promise tax refunds in exchange for personal and financial information.
Recently, many taxpayers received a convincing scam letter allegedly from HMRC’s Individuals and Small Business Compliance scheme. This letter requested sensitive information, including business bank statements, the latest accounts, VAT returns in PDF format for the last four quarters, and a clear photo of either a passport or driving license for each director, claiming it was for “identification purposes.” Recipients were instructed to email this information to companies-review@hmrc-taxchecks.org and were warned that failing to comply could lead to an investigation and possible freezing of business activities. The letter mimicked the format and font of genuine HMRC correspondence, making it even more deceptive.
It’s understandable why individuals might fall for such tactics, especially with the threat of frozen business assets causing panic.
If you receive a letter claiming to be from HMRC, here are steps to verify its authenticity:
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Examine the Request: Look for red flags. For instance, a unique taxpayer reference (UTR) should have ten digits, not six. Always verify the UTR mentioned in the letter.
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Question the Information Requested: HMRC typically has access to filed accounts and VAT returns, so a request for these documents is suspicious. Additionally, sending personal identification documents like passports or driving licenses should raise concerns.
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Check the Email Address: Genuine HMRC email addresses end with “gov.uk.” If the email address differs, it’s likely a scam.
HMRC regularly updates taxpayers on how to identify legitimate communications. You can find this guidance on the Gov.uk website, where it lists recent HMRC communications for verification.
Remain cautious about communications that appear to be from HMRC. Be particularly wary of clicking on links in texts or emails. While HMRC may include links to their Gov.uk site, be suspicious of other links. Remember, HMRC will never offer tax refunds in exchange for personal or financial information via text.
You can report scam texts by forwarding them to 60599. Additionally, suspicious emails, texts, letters, or phone calls can be reported to HMRC at phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.
