HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has sounded the alarm over reports of a scam in which criminals pretend to be the UK tax authority – sharing one key thing to look out for. Scammers use all sorts of ruses to try and trick unsuspecting victims into parting with their hard-earned cash. Some will even look to spoof Government departments to try to give the impression that it’s a legitimate and important message. HMRC issued a warning on X this week about one of them, urging people to be vigilant and flag any suspicious requests. The department wrote: “We’re receiving increased reports of customers receiving scam text messages claiming to be from HMRC, asking for additional information to complete a cryptoassets declaration.”
HMRC said it “might contact you by text message to direct you to guidance on http://GOV.UK if you have cryptoasset activity that may be taxable” but “will never ask you to provide personal or financial information by text”.
“Always stop and think if a request is genuine before sharing personal information. If you’re unsure, don’t click on any links and report it to us,” it added. The tax authority directed people to its website for more information about staying safe online. You can also report scams to HMRC there.
If you think you may have been targeted by scammers over the phone, there is an online service where you can report a call you don’t think is genuine. You’ll have to provide your email address or sign in to use it. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to 60599. HMRC notes that text messages will be charged at your network rate. Suspicious emails can be forwarded to HMRC’s phishing team: phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. HMRC advises deleting the messages after passing them on to reduce the risk of clicking a dangerous link by mistake.
The Government also recently warned against tax advice circulating online and called on people to make sure it works for them. Its “Don’t Get Caught Out” campaign raises awareness of the pitfalls of trusting bad tax advice. It says that while getting advice about your taxes “can be helpful”, “not all advice is good — and some may even be wrong or misleading”.
HMRC says more people than ever are turning to social media to get tips on their taxes and finances. It acknowledged that many creators are responsible and aim to educate people, but “not all advice online is accurate”.
“Some content can be incorrect, overly simplified, or designed to sell something that sounds too good to be true,” it said.
“So-called ‘ finfluencers’ (finance influencers) often present tax advice as quick wins, without explaining the rules, risks, or whether it applies to your situation”, it added.
The department calls on people to always use official sources, which provide “accurate, up-to-date guidance you can trust”.
“Checking GOV.UK before making decisions about your tax can help you avoid mistakes and get things right first time,” it said. HMRC added that if “something sounds too good to be true, it probably is”.
