Urgent scam warning over HMRC calls and new way to check

HMRC has refreshed its official guidance to help Brits spot genuine calls, and avoid fraudsters pretending to be tax officials.

This follows a spate of scams, preying on vulnerable people – particularly pensioners concerned about changes to the Winter Fuel Payments.

What real HMRC calls look – and sound – like

HMRC has confirmed it does contact some people by phone, but only in specific situations.

For example, you may get an automated or recorded call if you’re behind on tax payments.

These calls will:

• Explain what you need to do about your debt
• Direct you to official payment options or helplines
• Never ask for personal or financial details

If a caller asks for bank details, passwords or urgent payments – that’s a major red flag.

New HMRC calls happening right now

Between April 20 and May 18, some people may also receive calls from Verian, which is working with HMRC on research into tax fraud awareness.

These calls are legitimate – but optional – so if you aren’t sure, it’s fine to decline.

You may be asked to take part in a survey, but:

• Your answers will be anonymous
• Participation is voluntary
• You will not be asked for financial information

How to spot a scam call

Fraudsters often pretend to be HMRC – especially during busy tax periods.

Warning signs include:

• Pressure to act immediately
• Threats of arrest or legal action
• Requests for payment via unusual methods (like gift cards or crypto)
• Asking for sensitive personal or banking details

If a call feels suspicious, hang up and check independently in the new HMRC guidance .

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How to check if a call is genuine

HMRC now publishes a list of recent phone contact campaigns so you can verify whether a call is real.

If the call you received isn’t listed, you should treat it with caution and check official contact routes.

You can also report suspicious calls directly to HM Revenue & Customs to help tackle scams.

A quarter of adults targeted by scams

This comes as new research from Yorkshire Building Society reveals that more than one in four adults (27%) have been targeted by a financial scam in the past three years alone. The figure rises to over a third (35%) among 18–29-year-olds, highlighting the growing reach of fraud and scams across all age groups.

Among those who had been targeted, over half (56%) encountered an impersonation scam, where fraudsters posed as trusted organisations such as banks, HMRC, energy companies, delivery firms or even family members to request money, personal information or access to accounts.

The findings are being highlighted to mark Take Five Week (27 April – 3 May), a national campaign from UK Finance, encouraging people to stop, challenge and protect themselves against fraud.

More information on how to protect yourself from fraud and scams is available at takefive-stopfraud.org.uk .

Hannah Bingle, Financial Crime Specialist at Yorkshire Building Society , said: “These scams are often designed to create a sense of urgency, pushing people to act quickly without verifying the source, but by stopping and taking a moment to ask yourself if a message, call or email is genuine, you could protect yourself.

“If you receive a call out of the blue, be wary. Companies won’t request financial or password details, so never share them. If you suspect fraud or feel pressured, hang up and contact the company directly using their official phone number.

“If you receive a message, text or email that appears to be from a trusted source, take the time to ask – is it genuine?

“Be particularly wary of messages that request personal details, include a link to a form, or pose as someone you trust asking for money.”