HMRC issues warning to 12 million people over tax rebate scam

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Millions of people have been warned by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that they could be targets of a new fraud scheme. The government department has reportedly received more than 130,000 reports of tax scams in the past 12 months to September 2023.

Among the many reports, HMRC says 58,000 were offering customers fake tax rebates. It comes after 12 million people are expected to submit a Self Assessment tax return for the 2022/23 tax year before the January 31, 2024 deadline hits.

Scammers reportedly take a wide range of approaches to trick customers, including offering a rebate, telling customers they need to provide tax details, and even threatening arrest for tax evasion. Read more: DWP cost of living payments and support - three dates before Christmas to be aware of Read more: DWP payment window which will mean whether or not you get a £300 cost of living payment Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: "HMRC is reminding customers to be wary of approaches by fraudsters in the run up to the Self Assessment deadline.

Criminals are great pretenders who try and dupe people by sending emails, phone calls and texts which mimic government messages to make them appear authentic. "Unexpected contacts like these should set alarm bells ringing, so take your time and check HMRC scams advice on GOV.UK." HMRC says it has responded to 60,000 reports of phone scam and gotten 25,000 malicious web pages taken down in just the span of 12 months.