Guidance: Examples of HMRC related phishing emails, suspicious phone calls and texts

Phishing and scam examples updated and up to date screenshots included. ‘HMRC customs duty scams’ section added.

An image of a scam email for claiming the SEISS fourth grant has been added.

Examples of email and text scams have been updated including Coronavirus (COVID-19) scams

The ‘Suspicious phone calls’ section has been amended to include scam calls relating to National Insurance Number fraud.

An updated example of an HMRC related phishing email and phishing website has been added to English and Welsh version of this guidance.

Information has been added about a coronavirus (COVID-19) SMS scam that tells customers they have been fined £250 for leaving the house.

This page has been updated to let you know that HMRC is aware of COVID-19-Corona Virus SMS scams telling customers they can claim a ‘goodwill payment’.

An example of an email phishing scam related to the coronavirus – COVID-19 has been added to the Welsh version of this guidance.

An example of an email phishing scam related to the coronavirus – COVID-19 has been added.

The guidance has been updated with information about ‘WhatsApp’ messages.

A new example of a HMRC related phishing email scam has been added.

The guidance has been updated with new examples of a bogus email, website. Guidance on requests to complete NRL1 forms and return by fax has been removed.

The guidance has been updated with new examples of a bogus email, website, text message and PDF attachment.

The Bogus callers section has been removed and replaced with a new Bogus phone calls section.

A new type of Tax Rebate phishing scam, that contains PDF attachments, has been added.

Bogus callers section updated with new information.

Phishing examples have been updated.

Message warning of ‘Recorded message threatening legal action’ added to English and Welsh versions.

A new type of phishing scam regarding ‘Tax Returns’, which is being circulated in high volumes, has been added.

A new type of phishing scam which is being circulated in high volumes has been added to the pdf.

A new type of phishing scam which is being circulated in high volumes has been added to the pdf.

Text changes and references made to include ‘text / SMS messages’ in English and Welsh versions of the PDF. As HM Revenue and Customs are receiving a high number of referrals each month relating to bogus text messages.

Phishing examples have been updated.

The phishing examples have been updated and include up to date screen shots.

New phishing scam example added to page 9 of the pdf document.

Section 11 of the PDF has been updated to ask customers to forward phishing SMS messages to HMRC.

A new phishing SMS scam image added to the PDF.

Added translation

Document changed to clarify the position regarding SMS messages sent from HMRC

A new phishing scam is added to the phishing examples PDF.

Updated PDF attached

First published.