Scam

[Whingey]

Recorded message claiming to be from Inland revenue says I will be arrested if I don't press 1.number 07565143505

It's been doing the rounds

It's probably an innocent number. Apparently they can clone them (or something)

Its been doing the rounds for ages

I had one of those. I didn't press 1 because I'd heard doing this connects you to a premium number that costs £££
Also I was so bored with lockdown I thought it might be fun if they came to arrest me.

Please consider telling HMRC about the call. They collate all reports and use them to help identify dodgy websites/phone numbers and lots have been shut down.

"The callers use a variety of phone numbers. To help our investigations, please dial 14711 after the suspicious call (where possible) and make a note of the telephone number quoted (geographic charges may apply). If you have not already done so, please report full details of the scam by email to: [email protected]k, including the:
• date and time of the suspicious call
• phone number given by 1471 – if possible
• customer’s telephone number
• brief description of the call"

All of these scams seem to use numbers beginning with 07~. I can't imagine the inland revenue, royal mail or any other goverment body using a moibile phone number.

For example, the NHS texted me to confirm covid vaccine appontment, and it shows as "NHS No reply" as the sender, not a number. That's the first clue that any of these messages are scams.

See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_spoofing

so even though it may look like it's from a real business or organisation, it may not be.

Yes, of course it's a scam.

HMRC do not contact people like this. If they were going to arrange for someone to be arrested, they are hardly going to warn you in advance, are they?!

They appropriate numbers that 'look' like mobile phone numbers because you're more likely to answer the phone. Once they've got you on the phone you're more likely to go along with the scam, apparently.

( I always answer every call because I have children who might well have to use someone else's phone to call me in an emergency. Medical places often have their number withheld, so I answer those too, in case it's an emergency.)

HMRC do not call for things like that. Anyway, it is an out of date scammer because the Inland Revenue became HMRC in April 2005.

That's an old one, I wonder how many people have ever fallen for it

Yes, I'm about to be arrested too. Have forwarded it to HMRC so they know about that particular number at least (though I suspect it's like playing telephone number whack-a-mole).

As soon as I hear a recorded message playing I block the number.

I know it can be scary, but if you're in any doubt about this particular scam just think about how impossible it is to be arrested because you didn't press a number. "Send her down m'lud - she didn't press 1!!" When you think about it, it couldn't happen. x