New scam warning over fake HMRC texts - but the taxman's fighting back
You don't want to mess with HMRC - as criminals posing as them are currently finding out
Fake texts are being used by fraudsters (
Image: E+)
Vicky Shaw
Many scam texts which purport to be from the taxman and may promise cash rebates have now been stopped before they even reach people's phones, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Working with partners, HMRC said it started a pilot project in April 2017 to combat such messages.
New technology identifies fraudulent texts that suggest they are from HMRC and stops them from being delivered.
Since the pilot started, there has been a 90% reduction in customer reports around the spoofing of these specific HMRC-related messages, the revenue body said.
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These types of scam texts may display something like "HMRC" as the sender rather than a phone number to make them appear legitimate.
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC make false claims to recipients, such as suggesting they are due a tax rebate.
Messages often include links to websites which harvest personal information or spread malware. This can in turn lead to identity fraud and the theft of people's savings.
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HMRC is reminding people it will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text message or by email.
In the last 12 months, HMRC also said it has initiated the removal of 16,000 malicious websites, meaning even if texts are delivered the phishing website that people are directed to in a text may have already been removed.
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HMRC's director of customer services, Angela MacDonald, said: "As email and website scams become less effective, fraudsters are increasingly turning to text messages to con taxpayers."
She continued: "We have made significant progress is cutting down these types of crime, but one of the most effective ways to tackle it is still to help the public spot the tell-tale signs of fraud."
The findings were released during the Government and finance industry-backed Take Five To Stop Fraud Week, and also as the January 31 self-assessment deadline looms.
More information on the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign and how to spot fraud is available at takefive-stopfraud.org.uk .
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The UK lost £2 million a day last year as a result of fraud, according to official Financial Fraud Action UK figures.
To help people protect themselves, here are top tips from Action Fraud, Get Safe, NordVPN and Norton Antivirus to keep you safe:
Don't assume anyone who has called your phone or left you a voicemail message is who they say they are.
If a phone call or voicemail offers you a deal, asks you to make a payment or log-in to an online account, be cautious.
If you call back, try to use a different line as some scammers keep the line open on their side to trick you.
If in doubt, check it's genuine by asking the company it claims to be yourself. Never call numbers or follow links provided in suspicious emails; find the official website or customer support number using a separate browser.
Dodgy websites
Get protected: Before you start shopping online, secure your device with anti-virus software or a firewall. This will help block out pop-ups and hackers.
Check the URL: Only use secure websites for purchases, never buy anything from a site that does not have 'https' at the start of the URL and also look for the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen.
Is the deal too good to be true? Don't be seduced by "bargains" from companies which you don't know, if something appears too good to be true, it probably is.
Only shop with companies you know and trust: Watch out for fake websites. You can tell by checking the URL of the website, it may have a different spelling or a different domain name that ends in .net or .org.
Shop from home: Using public WiFi hotspots such as those offered by coffee shops and libraries could leave you vulnerable. If it won't wait until you get home use your own 3G/4G network.
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