A fortnight after the self-assessment tax deadline has passed, HMRC is cautioning against fake tax refund schemes.
With over 11.5 million taxpayers submitting their returns last month, there is a risk of scammers targeting them with deceptive emails, calls, or texts promising a tax rebate.
Responding to a 14% increase in reported suspicious contacts, HMRC urges vigilance to avoid divulging personal information to potential fraudsters.
Over the 12 months to January, 26,443 fraudulent web pages were identified and reported to internet service providers, marking a 29% increase from the 20,385 reported the previous year.
These sites mimic official platforms, aiming to deceive taxpayers into providing personal details. The information is exploited for unauthorised access to bank accounts or sold on the dark web. HMRC urges customers to safeguard their personal information and promptly report any suspicious activity to prevent falling victim to scams.
On Monday, the Home Office introduced the 'Stop! Think Fraud' national campaign, unveiling a new website offering guidance on online safety. The initiative aims to raise awareness and unite law enforcement, technology, banking and telecommunications in the fight against fraud.
Kelly Paterson, HMRC's chief security officer, said:
"Scammers will attempt to dupe people by email, phone, or texts that mimic government messages to make them appear authentic. Don't rush into anything; take your time and check HMRC scams advice on GOV.UK."
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