Police warn of HMRC tax scam

Police chiefs are warning people to be on the alert following an increase in the number of reported malicious calls, voicemails, text messages and emails to members of the public purporting to be from HMRC.

The UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and financially motivated cyber crime and Richardson Lissack says that fraudsters are telling victims that as a result of non- payment of tax or other duty, they are liable to prosecution or other legal proceedings such as repossession of belongings to settle the balance but can avoid this by arranging for payment to be made immediately by methods such as bank transfer or by iTunes gift cards.

If the victim is hesitant or refuses to comply, the fraudster makes a threat such as immediate arrest, bailiffs or in cases where the victim appears to be of overseas origin; deportation.

Often, the period for which the tax is allegedly due is distant enough to guarantee the victim will have little, if any, paperwork or ability to verify the claims.

Once the money is paid the suspects sever all contact.