HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued details of a number of new scams being reported that are designed to trick people into handing over money or their personal information to criminals. The warning is particularly important for around 1.5 million people on Tax Credits who must complete their renewal packs before the end of next month.
HMRC said criminals use key dates like the Tax Credits renewal deadline on July 31 to target their victims and mimic government communications to make them appear genuine. People can renew their Tax Credits for free online at GOV.UK or on the HMRC app.
Typical scams include emails or texts falsely claiming someone's details are not up to date and that the recipient may miss out on payments. Scam messages may also claim a payment has not ‘gone through’ and criminals have also been known to phone people and threaten them with arrest if they do not immediately pay fake tax debts.
