{"id":2540,"date":"2022-03-31T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-31T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"im-23421"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"scammers-target-self-assessment-taxpayers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ep-accountants.co.uk\/scammers-target-self-assessment-taxpayers\/","title":{"rendered":"Scammers target Self-Assessment taxpayers"},"content":{"rendered":"
Fraudsters are continuing to target taxpayers with scam emails, texts and calls following the deadline for submission of Self-Assessment returns for 2020-21. In fact, over the last year, HMRC received more than 570,000 reports about suspicious HMRC contacts. <\/p>\n
A number of these scams purport to tell taxpayers they are due a fake tax rebate or tax refund from HMRC and ask for bank or credit card details in order to send the fake tax refund. The fraudsters use various means to try and scam people including making contact by phone calls, texts or emails. In fact, fraudsters have been known to threaten victims with arrest or imprisonment if a bogus tax bill is not paid immediately.<\/p>\n
HMRC’s has a dedicated Customer Protection team to identify and close down scams. The team seeks to identify suspect emails before they reach the taxpayer. Since 2017, these technical controls have prevented 500 million emails from reaching taxpayers, but the problems continue as the fraudsters adapt and try new methods to evade capture.<\/p>\n
Taxpayers should also try and recognise the signs of fraud to avoid becoming victims themselves. For example, genuine organisations like HMRC and banks will never contact customers asking for their PIN, password or bank details.<\/p>\n