Tis’ the season for self assessment scams

With the deadline for self assessment not far away, HMRC has issued a warning about phishing emails and texts sent to taxpayers, which ask them to supply personal information, including their bank details. It says around 800,000 tax-related scams were reported last year; some individuals even received a phone call, asking them to urgently transfer money owed to avoid HMRC starting criminal proceedings against them. Or, the bogus communication could be insisting there is a rebate due for a recently-filed return ­­– could they kindly provide an account for the funds to be returned into?

HMRC does send out millions of emails and texts at the end of the year, to remind people not to forget about the impending deadline, also where online to find advice and support if they are worried about paying their bill. Taking advantage of people’s confusion and vulnerability is a tactic of scammers and it only takes one ‘mistake’, when they believe the email, text or call to be legit, to set off a chain of events.