Got an email from HMRC? Make sure it’s genuine before you reply.
In February 2014, it was reported in The Telegraph that HMRC received 23,247 reports of fraudulent emails sent just in the 3 month count down to the 31st January self-assessment deadline. Imagine how many were actually sent if that was the number reported! It signifies a 47% increase in comparison to the same time period in 2013.
Some of the emails state you are owed a tax rebate. HMRC will never send you an email asking for you to apply for a tax rebate.
Securing your personal and financial information must be top of your priorities during any online dealings. The consequences of being scammed in this way take a long time to resolve as your data becomes a commodity for sale across the internet.
HMRC have always been very clear about exactly how they officially communicate with taxpayers and work hard to keep personal and financial information secure. But the fraudsters are also good at their job and fake websites often look authentic.
Bottom line – HMRC will never ask you for personal or financial information, or to make any payments by text or email. Likewise, a tax rebate will only arrive in the post. This is never outsourced to another company and will never be done by phone or email.
HMRC Fake emails
These are also known as phishing emails and their only purpose is to get your personal and financial details fraudulently. Some of them are very convincingly designed, but here are some basic warning signs to look out for;
- A generic greeting like ‘Dear Customer’, instead of your actual name. This makes it quicker for fraudsters to send emails to a large number of people at the same time.
- Spelling mistakes
- Poor grammar or unexpected language
- Attachments – never open suspicious attachments as they can contain viruses which steal personal information.
- Requests for personal and financial information. HMRC never ask for this in an email.
- Phrases like ‘you only have 3 days’ or ‘urgent action needed’. An immediate reaction from you is good for the perpetrators, as they can quickly get what they want and move on without detection.
- Links to banks, building societies and even genuine HMRC pages on the fake websites. It doesn’t matter how ‘real’ they look, if there are boxes for your bank details and credit card information, they are not from HMRC.
- The email address is not the same, but very similar to, HMRC. For example, ending @hmrc.gov.uk. It might look legitimate, but if you’re not 100% sure, report it.
What kind of emails do HMRC send?
Well, as you can imagine, there are a variety of emails that HMRC send to taxpayers in all different circumstances. The most important point is that none of them ever ask for personal details, financial information or payment.
Here are some examples of legitimate emails or messages you might receive from HMRC depending upon your personal situation.
Tax Credits spam emails
You may get a text to remind you to renew your tax credits claim, which will direct you to the Gov.UK website so that you can do it online.
You may also receive a confirmation message saying that HMRC received and are processing your claim for tax credit. This applies to those people making a new claim or renewing between April and July 2015.
HMRC may also send you a message if your income details and your employer records don’t match, giving you a number to call.
Concentrix are a company who work on behalf of HMRC checking that people receive the correct tax credits. Correspondence may have both Concentrix and HMRC logos and will be instructing you how to provide any necessary information. Concentrix may phone, text or email you, but you will never be asked for any details in this way.
Trade Statistics Unit
This section of HMRC provides support to its business clients. They send a range of emails such as deadline reminders, survey requests and service updates. They may also pass on useful links to, for example, educational content on a relevant trade website. They never ask for tax information, payments or personal details.
Educational emails
These usually have links to useful online resources that support “business life events”, as HMRC puts it. They are from the address [email protected].
Employer Bulletin 55
You have to register to get this email, so you’ll be expecting it. You should have just received the latest ‘Important information for employers’ sent on 19th August. These often include links to pages on HMRC’s website.
PAYE notices and reminders
You can opt to receive notifications and reminders when you register for PAYE using the online service. These send deadline reminders for PAYE submission and payments, and warning messages if you don’t send PAYE reports in real time. They also contain any new information as it arises.
VAT Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS)
HMRC have been emailing people who registered for VAT MOSS from 20th March this year. But these emails are not to gather information or to make any payments.
Agents Self-Serve Online
As of 13th April this year, HMRC have been inviting volunteer agents to try out the new ‘Agents online self-serve private beta service’ for PAYE employer accounts. This invitation does have a link to the service being trialled, but does not require any information input.
Banking and Debt Management
You may receive a message with information about what you should do if you are behind with you payments or how important it is to use accurate information when you are making a payment. They will have a helpline number or a ‘how to pay’ instruction. No request for payment will be part of a real HMRC message.
Whatever you do – proceed with caution! Just don’t give any personal or financial details to any message, call or email claiming to be from HMRC.
If the worst happens and you think you have been scammed, then get in touch with your bank or building society as quickly as possible and forward the phishing email to HMRC using the address [email protected]. It’s always worth reporting a scam to HMRC before you permanently delete it – they shut down 1,476 fake sites in 2013. Be on your guard!
