HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued an alert to taxpayers to be wary of fraudulent websites posing as the tax office’s own.
In its latest report on fraudulent activity, it says it requested a ‘record’ 20,750 malicious sites to be taken down in the past 12 months – representing a rise of 29 per cent on the previous year.
The figures come as Scam Awareness Month draws to a close, in which taxpayers were handed tips to avoid falling victim to tax scams.
Importantly, no reputable bank or official Government organisation will ask a user to hand over their PIN, password or bank details.
Among the most common kinds of scams, fraudsters will send out emails pretending to be from a trusted organisation, such as HMRC, in an attempt to trick the recipient into opening an attachment or clicking a hyperlink, known as a ‘phishing’ attempt.
HMRC advised online users to report websites, individuals and organisations if they suspect they are involved in fraudulent activity.
Treasury Minister Mel Stride MP, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said: “The criminals behind these scams prey on the public and abuse their trust in government. We’re determined to stop them.
“HMRC is cracking down harder than ever, as these latest figures show. But we need the public’s help as well. By doing the right thing and reporting suspicious messages you will not only protect yourself, you will protect other potential victims.”
It added that it will never ask a taxpayer to pay tax via a text or email message. If in doubt, always access the HMRC website directly from your computer browser and contact an HMRC official using the details provided on the website.