Don't Let Tax Credits Become Debits!

HMRC are warning tax credit claimants to beware of email scams. The period in the run-up to the 31 July tax credits renewal deadline often sees an increase in such criminality.

Phishing emails often promise cash back and, if an unwary recipient clicks on the link, they are taken to a cloned replica of the HMRC website. The recipient is asked to provide credit or debit card details or other sensitive information such as passwords. Fraudsters then try to steal money from the account.

Victims risk having money stolen from their bank accounts, or their personal details being sold to criminal gangs for identify fraud.

During last year’s tax credits renewals period, from April to July, nearly 94,000 phishing emails were reported by taxpayers. Even though HMRC helped shut down more than 360 scam websites during the period, others continue to be created.

Marshall Smalley advise that HMRC only ever contact taxpayers who are due a tax refund in writing by post, they don’t use telephone calls, emails or external companies in repayment cases. Anyone who receives an email claiming to be from HMRC should send it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before deleting it permanently.