The HMRC tax scam: fake refunds and threats on the phone
Around Self Assessment deadlines — the 31 January rush especially — scammers pose as HMRC. A refund to claim, a tax bill to settle 'or else': the trick leans on authority and urgency. In Ireland the same con name-drops Revenue. Here's how to see through it.
How the scam works
The fake officer either dangles a refund you're owed or, more menacingly, claims you owe unpaid tax that must be paid at once or you'll be arrested or sued. For a 'refund' they ask for your bank or card details; for a 'debt' they demand instant payment, sometimes bizarrely by gift card or bank transfer.
The call often comes alongside a text or email copying the HMRC or Revenue logo, with a link to a fake site. Thanks to spoofing, the number on screen can even look official.
The warning signs
HMRC never demands payment by gift card or voucher, never threatens immediate arrest by phone, and never asks for your full card details or PIN. A genuine refund is handled through your online tax account, not an unexpected phone call.
Urgency, threats and a request for bank details are the con's fingerprints. A real tax authority gives you time and puts things in writing you can verify.
Reacting and checking
Hang up and log in yourself at gov.uk, or check via revenue.ie in Ireland. Don't click any link in a text. Forward suspicious texts to 7726, report phishing to HMRC's dedicated address, and report fraud to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040) or the Gardaí.
To stop these calls reaching you at all, Allociao recognises numbers already flagged in these seasonal campaigns and hangs up before the fake officer even starts their script.
The refund text and the fake gov.uk page
A common text claims 'HMRC: you are due a tax refund of £284.50' and links to a page copying the gov.uk styling that asks for your card details. The give-away is the web address: genuine HMRC services sit on a gov.uk domain, never a lookalike like 'hmrc-refund-claim.com'. HMRC doesn't notify refunds by text.
FAQ
Will HMRC ask for my card details over the phone?
No. Genuine refunds go through your online tax account. HMRC never asks for full card details, PINs or payment by gift card over the phone.
How do I check a suspicious HMRC call?
Hang up and log in yourself at gov.uk, or call HMRC on a number from the official site. In Ireland, check via revenue.ie.
Where do I report it?
Forward scam texts to 7726, report phishing to HMRC's reporting address, and report fraud to Action Fraud or An Garda Síochána.
Sources
Related guides
The fake bank 'safe account' scam, and how to beat it
How the UK bank impersonation 'safe account' scam works, the spoofing tricks behind it, and how to protect yourself, including the free 159 number.
AI voice-clone scams: when danger sounds like your own family
A relative calls in distress begging for money urgently — but the voice may be cloned by AI. How to recognise this new grandparent-style scam and respond safely.
Protecting an older relative from scam calls
Older relatives are prime targets for phone fraud. How to protect an elderly parent without taking away their independence, and where to turn in the UK and Ireland.