Fraud involving bogus contact purporting to be from HMRC is on the increase. Its latest press release, issued this week, reports that in the year to August 2022, over 180,000 cases of suspicious contact were referred to it. Nearly half of these were scams involving promises of fake tax refunds, designed to trick you into disclosing your bank details. In recent years, fraudsters are getting more brazen, often calling from numbers that genuinely look like HMRC. Upon answering (or checking a voicemail), you may be told that you need to urgently pay money or you will be arrested.

HMRC’s Director general for Customer Services said: “Never let yourself be rushed. If someone contacts you saying they’re from HMRC, wanting you to urgently transfer money or give personal information, be on your guard. HMRC will never ring up threatening arrest. Only criminals do that. Tax scams come in many forms. Some threaten immediate arrest for tax evasion, others offer a rebate. Contacts like these should set alarm bells ringing, so take your time and check HMRC scams advice on GOV.UK.”