HMRC has issued a warning to those renewing their tax credits claims to be alert to scammers trying to steal their information.
Tax credit claimants should be on their guard against fraudsters, as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) warns of the latest tactics being employed by scammers.
HMRC has issued a new alert, providing details of a number of new scams reported that aim to trick people into handing over money or personal information. Criminals use deadlines – like the tax credits renewal deadline on 31 July – to target their victims, and the department is warning around 1.5 million tax credits claimants to be alert to scams that mimic government communications to make them appear genuine.
Typical scam examples include:
emails or texts claiming an individual’s details aren’t up to date and that they risk losing out on payments that are due to them
emails or texts claiming that a direct debit payment hasn’t ‘gone through’
phone calls threatening arrest if people don’t immediately pay fake tax owed
claims that the victim’s national insurance number has been used in fraud
emails or texts offering spurious tax rebates or bogus grants or support
If you are uncertain about the provenance of any communication, please don't hesitate to ask us for advice. We are always happy to help.