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Tax scam attempts reported to HMRC have risen by 16.7% in the past year, with fraudsters stepping up their efforts to target Suffolk residents ahead of the January Self Assessment deadline.
Why it matters: Nearly half of all scam reports to HMRC in the last year involved fake tax rebate claims, putting millions of taxpayers at risk of losing personal information and money.
By the numbers:
144,298 scam referrals received by HMRC between November 2023 and October 2024
Up from 123,596 in the previous 12-month period
71,832 reports involved fake tax rebate claims
The big picture: With the 31 January 2025 Self Assessment deadline approaching, fraudsters are increasingly targeting taxpayers through various methods:
Voicemails threatening legal action or arrest
Text messages requesting personal information
Fake tax rebate offers
What they're saying: HMRC has emphasised it will never:
Leave threatening voicemails about legal action or arrest
Ask for personal or financial information via text message
Make unexpected offers of tax rebates
How to protect yourself: HMRC advises checking gov.uk to verify any suspicious communications claiming to be from the tax office.
Bottom line: As tax scams continue to rise, Suffolk residents should remain vigilant and verify any unexpected HMRC communications, particularly those requesting personal information or offering surprise rebates.
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