HMRC and Covid-related scams increased 71 per cent since 2019

In 2020, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) received 975,420 accounts of suspicious contact from the public. Out of that figure, 552,885 of these were fraudulent tax rebates.
In 2019, there were 569,140 accounts, which means 2020 saw a decrease of 71.3 per cent. Additionally, Covid-related fraudulent messages increased by an astonishing 1,350 per cent, as fraudsters target individuals and businesses using the furlough scheme.
HMRC recorded 34,538 complaints regarding scam activity in February 2020, which rose by 206 per cent to 105,906 in January 2021.
Since March 2020, they reported almost 450 Covid-related financial scams – most of which were text messages trying to get the recipient to respond to false furlough repayment claims.
Overall, scam emails, text messages and phone calls increased by 51 per cent.
To identify how the number of phone numbers used to commit HMRC-related fraudulent calls, HMRC teamed up with the telecoms industry and Ofcom and found the number to be 2,968.
But the scams were not limited to phone calls, texts and emails. More than 19,820 fake and malicious web pages were up and running, which were soon taken down, along with 402 Covid-related scam websites.
‘If someone calls, emails or texts claiming to be from HMRC, saying that you owe tax and face arrest, are due to a tax refund, asking you to transfer money, or for a bank or other personal details, it might be a scam. Check gov.UK for our scams checklist and to find out how to report tax scams’ said an HMRC spokesperson.
‘Criminals are taking advantage of the package of measures announced by the Government to support people and businesses affected by a coronavirus. Scammers text, email or phone tax-payers offering spurious financial support or tax refunds, sometimes threatening them with arrest if they don’t immediately pay [the] fictitious tax owed.’
If you think you have received a fraudulent means of communication, delete the item and report it to HMRC. For more information or advice on this issue, please contact us today.

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