Brits being sent letters from HMRC – but they are ‘perfect cover’ | Personal Finance | Finance
For many, the summer months bring more than sunny weather. HMRC begins distributing P800 tax calculation correspondence to individuals who may have overpaid income tax and are entitled to refunds.
An estimated four million people, including PAYE workers and pensioners alike, are anticipated to receive these letters this year. But taxpayers aren’t the only ones keeping an eye on HMRC’s schedule.
Siobhan Blagbrough, financial crime manager at Ocean Finance, cautioned: “Scammers know tax refund letters are landing this summer, which gives them the perfect cover. People waiting for a rebate are much more likely to believe a text or email asking them to ‘claim now.'”
She emphasised: “But HMRC will never call, text, or email you unexpectedly about a refund. If you’re owed money, you’ll either get a cheque in the post or be asked to claim it through your online tax account at Gov.uk.
“If you weren’t expecting a message – don’t click, don’t reply, and don’t share your details. Fraudsters often use pressure tactics, spoofed numbers, and fake websites to trick people.
“If something feels off, trust your gut and report it using HMRC’s phishing scam form. A few seconds of caution could save you thousands.”
The alert follows HMRC‘s disclosure that it was targeted by a scam aiming to steal customer information and file fraudulent rebates, with the scammers making off with £47million of HMRC funds, as reported by the BBC.
Ocean Finance’s research indicates that 20% of Britons would risk clicking on a dubious link, heightening their vulnerability to fraudsters impersonating trusted entities like HMRC.
If you think you’ve fallen victim to a scam, Siobhan advised: “Your bank can block your card, investigate, and potentially refund your money. The quicker you act, the better. If you paid via debit card, chargeback could help you recover your money. This process allows you to dispute an unauthorised transaction and request a refund.
“Contact Action Fraud to help authorities track down criminals and prevents future scams.”
In case of stolen login credentials, promptly update your passwords, opting for strong, unique combinations and enabling two-factor authentication for added security.
Personal finance expert Aaron Peake from CredAbility, warned that falling victim to a scam could do more than just empty your wallet at the moment; it could also severely damage your credit score if not swiftly addressed post-incident.
He stated: “A scam won’t directly hit your credit score, but the financial damage might. Missed repayments or loans taken out in your name can leave marks on your credit file and make it harder to get a mortgage, loan, or credit card in the future.”
