HMRC Scam Calls and Texts: What to Look For

HMRC is one of the most impersonated organisations in the UK. Criminals send millions of fake calls, texts and emails every year pretending to be from the tax authority, hoping to trick people into handing over money or personal details. Understanding how these scams work is the best way to avoid falling for them.

Common Types of HMRC Scams

Threatening phone calls

You receive an automated or live call claiming to be from HMRC. The caller states that you owe unpaid tax and that a warrant has been issued for your arrest. They demand immediate payment, often via gift cards, bank transfer or cryptocurrency. Some callers use spoofed phone numbers that appear to be genuine HMRC lines.

Tax refund text messages

A text message tells you that you are due a tax refund and includes a link to claim it. The link leads to a fake website designed to look like a GOV.UK page, where you are asked to enter your bank details, National Insurance number and other personal information.

Phishing emails

Emails that appear to come from HMRC ask you to verify your identity, update your payment details or claim a refund. They often contain official-looking logos and formatting. The links in these emails lead to fraudulent websites or download malware onto your device.

What HMRC Will Never Do

• Ask you to make a payment using gift cards, vouchers or cryptocurrency.
• Threaten you with immediate arrest over the phone.
• Send you a text message with a link to claim a tax refund.
• Ask for your PIN, password or bank account details by email or text.
• Use threatening or aggressive language to pressure you into paying immediately.
• Contact you via WhatsApp or social media to discuss your tax affairs.

How to Verify Genuine HMRC Contact

If you are unsure whether a communication is genuinely from HMRC, do not respond to it directly. Instead, use these steps to verify:

• Log in to your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK. Any genuine correspondence from HMRC will appear there.
• Call HMRC directly using the number on GOV.UK (not a number provided in the suspicious message). The general enquiries line is 0300 200 3300.
• Check the HMRC phishing examples page on GOV.UK, which lists known scam formats.

How to Report HMRC Scams

Phishing emails

Forward suspicious emails claiming to be from HMRC to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Do not click any links or download any attachments.

Scam text messages

Forward scam texts to 60599, HMRC's dedicated text reporting number. You should also forward the text to 7726 so your mobile network can investigate.

Scam phone calls

If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. You can also report the phone number to Ofcom.

Suspicious websites

If you have found a website pretending to be HMRC, report it to the National Cyber Security Centre at ncsc.gov.uk/report.

What to Do If You Have Already Responded

If you have clicked a link, shared personal details or made a payment, act quickly:

• Contact your bank immediately and explain what happened. Dial 159 to reach your bank's fraud team.
• Change your passwords for any accounts that may be compromised.
• Report the incident to Action Fraud.
• Monitor your credit file for any unusual activity. You can do this for free through services like ClearScore, Credit Karma or Experian.
• Contact Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8848 for guidance on next steps.

Staying Safe at Tax Time

Scammers increase their activity around Self Assessment deadlines in January and July, as well as around the start of the new tax year in April. Be especially vigilant during these periods. Remember that HMRC will always write to you by post for important matters and will never demand instant payment over the phone.