HMRC e-mail scams have been around for a while, with scammers purporting to be HMRC and offering you a tax refund or demanding payment of an overdue debt in an attempt to gain bank details etc.
As well as by e-mail, scammers are also trying other means of communication to impersonate HMRC. This includes social media and text message scams advising that you are due a tax rebate.
HMRC is also currently aware of bogus phone calls, with automated messages advising that HMRC is taking legal action against you. They may also try to contact you by phone demanding immediate payments or even the purchase of iTunes vouchers to settle a fictitious debt.
HMRC has confirmed that they will never call, e-mail, text or contact you via social media asking for personal or payment information. Similarly, they will not contact you using these methods to tell you about a tax rebate or penalty.
If you receive a suspicious phone call you should end it immediately and report to: phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk with details of the date of the call, phone number used and content of the call.
If receiving e-mails, text messages or social media messages you should never open attachments or click on any links. Often they will either contain viruses or try to direct you to a bogus website to obtain personal or financial information. Again, any such contact should be reported to the above e-mail address.