WEEKLY FRAUD UPDATE FROM WEST MERCIA POLICE - ECONOMIC CRIME UNIT - 06/10/2025

WEEKLY FRAUD UPDATE FROM WEST MERCIA POLICE - ECONOMIC CRIME UNIT - 06/10/2025

HMRC SCAMS

This is the key time to be aware of emails, texts, or even phone calls, claiming to be from HMRC, and criminals will maximise that opportunity to send out those texts, emails and also phone calls to catch out their victims.

Whilst October and January are key dates in the HMRC Self-Assessment Calendar, fake messages purporting to come from HMRC may be around all year round, so everyone needs to be aware.

Criminals will take advantage of the Self-Assessment deadlines to panic you into sharing personal or financial details or even paying bogus “Tax Due”. So please take a moment to think before parting with any information or money. If in doubt, check with HMRC using reliable contact details provided by them.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

Scammers may text or email people to tell them they are due a Tax Rebate from HMRC; this may also include a link that asks for personal details which can be used for further scams

Scammers are also using phone calls to gain people’s details

Automated phone calls may be used to say people owe tax, and arrest warrants may be issued by HMRC unless they pay the outstanding tax

Fake web pages have also been used which can copy the genuine HMRC website

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Before you give out any personal details first consider:

Were you expecting to be contacted? Check it is really HMRC contacting you

Are you being pressured? If the request is for an urgent money transfer or for personal details be very wary. Remember that HMRC will never ask for payments using Gift Cards

Are you being threatened with arrest? HMRC will never call you and threaten arrest

Are you being asked for personal bank details or to transfer money?

Is it sounding too good to be true? Are you really expecting a Tax Rebate?

Is the website or email address genuine? Always double check these details if you are unsure. Some more refined scams may use official details and logos so be aware

Check your personal tax account online to see if there are any genuine messages

If you think it is a scam, report it to HMRC as soon as possible for further investigations. You can report suspicious emails via phishing@hmrc.gov.uk

This also applies to the regular raft of other messages claiming to be from other similar Government and Non-Governmental Agencies (NGA’s)

Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours.

If you have fallen for fraud

Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk

Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take prompt action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks.

You can also report fraudulent mobile calls by texting 7726 with the word “Call” followed by the fraudster’s phone number.

Scam calls received on WhatsApp can be blocked by opening the chat with the suspect phone number and tap on “Block”.

Forward Fake Emails received to report@phishing.gov.uk

If you think your bank account or personal banking details have been used fraudulently, then use the short phone number - 159 - to contact the Fraud Prevention Department of most major UK banks.

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Message Sent By
Michael Barbour
(Police, PSV, Economic Crime Unit – Fraud Protect’)