Fake HMRC Covid Emails Skyrocket

The FT reports that the number of scam emails purporting to be from the HMRC has skyrocketed since the start of the year, as criminals seek to exploit financial fears over the coronavirus outbreak.

The number of phishing emails referring to Covid-19 reported to HMRC climbed to 42,575 in March — up 74 per cent since January.

The pandemic has led to a wider increase in fraud. According to Action Fraud, the UK’s fraud reporting centre, 1,713 people had lost £3.5m to Covid-19 related scams by May 15.

HMRC has stressed it will never email, text or message individual taxpayers on social media to offer a tax rebate or refund.

Taxpayers should forward any suspicious emails claiming to be from HMRC to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and send any suspicious texts to 60599. Consumers who receive suspect messages can also compare them with examples of scams published on the government’s web pages.

Tax does have to be taxing.

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