HMRC text warning issued as Brits told they are owed £277 tax refund

04 January 2024 , 11:12

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A scam warning has bee issued (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Brits are being warned over a new scam text that sees criminals posing as HMRC offering a fake 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, it reads: "Follow instructions to claim your tax refund by clicking a web link which it provided." The link to this website is not the official Government Gov.uk site.

The scam warning comes from the charity the Fraud Advisory Panel, which shared the warning on its X - formerly Twitter - account this week. Their post urged people against clicking on links if they are sent by a "suspicious" message or email.

The post read: "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."

Many people will receive messages from HMRC over the next few weeks as we come up to the deadline for self-assessment tax on January 31. In a post on the official Gov.uk website, it does confirm that HMRC does send text messages, and a message might include a link to a Gov.uk information page or to an HMRC webchat.

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However, it does say that the tax office will not ask for personal or financial information when sending text messages. It added: "We advise you not to open any links or reply to a text message claiming to be from HMRC that offers you a tax refund in exchange for personal or financial details."

If you receive one of these fake HMRC messages then you can report it to 60599 or email [email protected]. After doing this, HMRC says you should then delete the message.

What to do if you think you’ve been scammed

If you think a scammer has got hold of your bank details, you need to contact your bank straight away. You can call the 159 hotline, which will connect you to your bank. Passwords that have been leaked or compromised should be changed immediately. Make sure you report scams and fraud to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040, or through the Action Fraud website.

If you're in Scotland, report a scam through Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or on the Advice Direct Scotland website. You can also report scams to Police Scotland on 101.

For scam emails, forward them to [email protected], and for scam text messages, forward them to 7726 for free. If you suspect a scammer is calling you, hang up immediately and search for the contact details online of the place you're supposedly being called from. Never call back the number provided by the caller.

Ruby Flanagan