Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask to share scams and if anyone has had this HMRC scam?

53 replies

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/03/2019 09:50

Just had a call from an 0300 number on my mobile very similar to HMRCs number.

The automated voice told me there was a fraud case opened under my name (no name given) to press 1 to be connected otherwise if I terminated the call I would shortly be arrested. I hung up and rang the number back. An automated service told me to input my 10 digit tax code if I had it and wait to speak to an advisor. I then hung up again.

This is a new one on me. Anyone else had this scam or any other scams? I get them on my landline but it’s always bt disconnecting my internet service. This one was actually pretty scary sounding.

OP posts:
Tohaveandtohold · 19/03/2019 09:53

I had a similar call last week. Just like what you described. I hung up and blocked the number.

TixieLix · 19/03/2019 09:57

Definitely a scam. Fraudsters have cloned HMRCs number to do this one. There's been stuff online about it and it's been happening for months now.

MinesaPinot · 19/03/2019 09:59

There was an article in the Daily Fail either yesterday or over the weekend (check their website) about this very thing - this is it:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6820095/Ruthless-swindlers-terrorising-10-000-UK-residents-day-threatening-prison.html

SileneOliveira · 19/03/2019 10:00

Of course it's a scam.

Original poster
Mummyoflittledragon · 19/03/2019 10:00

Ok thanks. I emailed the info to hmrc as well. I didn’t realise it had been happening for a while now. Good idea to block the number. I do that on my landline.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mummyoflittledragon · 19/03/2019 10:05

Minesa
Thanks for the daily fail link. Shocking!

OP posts:
AuntieOxident · 19/03/2019 10:07

I get the emails - HMRC owe me a tax refund of £xx on a regular basis, it seems. Just click on the handy link....
(On the rare occasion I have been owed a refund from HMRC, a cheque arrives in the post.)
And a new one recently, supposedly from TV licensing, saying I owe them money. I don't, we pay by annual direct debit and have done for years.
If it doesn't come by post I ignore them all.

OftenHangry · 19/03/2019 10:08

Martin Lewis has been warning people too. Problem is that apparently they piggy back on real HMRC number?

Also famous scam is "You are due your tax refund". Sure. Cause inputing my card details includin the back code is something HMRC will want from me....

FookMeFookYou · 19/03/2019 10:13

Yes I had this a few months ago for the first time and 2-3 times since. I even reported it to HMRC (sat and waited for 20 mins) but he told me there wasn't anything they could do (BS surely?) and that they would never contact me in that way...that I did the right thing blah blah. I just want the scams/spam/nuisance to stop. Every day now I'm having to block a number 😡 it's fudging irritating

Anniegetyourgun · 19/03/2019 10:14

It's not really terribly likely, is it, that HMRC would ring to say if you don't contact them you'll be arrested? I suppose some people must fall for this though, otherwise the scammers wouldn't keep using this method.

I keep getting the BT one telling me my internet will shortly be disconnected. This is a slightly worse fate in my view than being arrested, but funnily enough it still hasn't happened despite my slamming the phone down every time it turns out to be them again. Their latest cute angle is to say that if BT isn't your provider you can press a given number to be connected to another one Confused

babysharkah · 19/03/2019 10:15

It's a well known scam. Don't call them back!! You can block it but they'll prob call again adjusting the number by 1 digit. Personally, I don't answer my mobile to unknown numbers. If it's important / genuine they'll leave a message.

Original poster
Mummyoflittledragon · 19/03/2019 10:36

Oh yes, I’ve had the tv licensing thing a couple of time. I also once clicked on a link. I was really lucky. It was just a fake login page, where I could input anything and get onto the actual page, where they were asking for info. I stopped myself in time. Scams frighten me. I’d rather lose my internet connection than be arrested tbh!

OP posts:
Tovisaornottovisa · 19/03/2019 11:58

Yes dh had one

BlueMerchant · 19/03/2019 12:04

I had a call last week from a Milton Keynes number saying it was an investigator from hmrc looking into tax evasion. When I told them I wasn't working they said to keep the library e free and they would ring me back. I was do worried I rang the hmrc number on my last letter. They had no record of any call to me and told me they were reporting it as a scam.(The Milton Keynes number was given to police).

SilverySurfer · 19/03/2019 13:54

Anniegetyourgun I have had quite a few 'BT' callsover the past few months telling me my internet will be disconnected from today (fate worse than death IMO) and had another five minutes ago. The first time I was a bit concerned but figured it could be a scam so put the phone down, as it has proved to be.

My biggest hate is reserved for Microsoft scammers, I either string them along for 45 minutes or tell them to fuck off and die, depending how I'm feeling.

scaryteacher · 19/03/2019 14:35

Silvery I'm in Belgium, so pretend to only speak Flemish when they call. I did have one who spoke to me in French this week, but I soon got rid of her.

SilverySurfer · 19/03/2019 16:24

I usually put on a doddery voice and after driving them mad for about 45 with my pseudo incompetence re computers, I end by saying something like 'oh, it says Linux on my computer, is that the same as Windows? which usually results in a muffled scream and the phone going dead Grin

I know about 20 Fijian words (mostly numbers and swear words) I must try using that on them next time lol.

DeadCertain · 19/03/2019 16:26

I had the same call this morning.

caughtinanet · 19/03/2019 16:30

The HMRC call scam has been going on for months and has been quite widely reported, I hope no one's falling for it.

Sparklingbrook · 19/03/2019 16:36

Yes, I had a recodrd message one from an HMRC looking number saying there was a warrant out for my arrest apparently. Shock

hellsbellsmelons · 19/03/2019 16:38

I had a call from 'BT' the other day stating that they were terminating my internet and if that was not my intention to dial 1 etc......
I just hung up.
Did a 1471.
Called BT and reported it.

Also a Paypal one recently as well.
This email stated I had recently changed my address.
If I didn't could I log into my account blah blah blah.
Again - called up Paypal and reported it over the phone and email.

Also had someone hack into my ebay account.
Just called them up and it all got sorted out.

I also had the HMRC one.

Luckily they are easy to spot.

onthenaughtystepagain · 19/03/2019 16:40

I work on the theory that all calls like this are cons and hang up. Amazing that people are still falling for these cons, the newspapers are full of them. I also don't agree with the banks being expected to replace conned money, that's their customers' money they're giving away to people who've let themselves be conned.

onthenaughtystepagain · 19/03/2019 16:44

I know about 20 Fijian words (mostly numbers and swear words) I must try using that on them next time lol

I used to reply to gobby taxi drivers in Gibraltar 'Hey, Schleswig Holstein', dragging out every syllable, had quite an effect.
When I get a cold call obviously from the sub-continent I usually order a couple of prawn curries and a side of naan.

Duchessgummybuns · 19/03/2019 16:47

I had a phishing email from “PayPal” last night with a link. I checked out the email address it had come from and it was [email protected]. So I signed her up to mailbait. Enjoy your 12 emails a minute Zoe Grin

homemadegin · 19/03/2019 16:58

I'm still swaying between feeling sick and utter rage at my very elderly PIL falling for this last month.

Just to be clear I didn't shout at them, but their stupidity astounds me. I can say however, it's the first time I've seen my very feisty mil look vulnerable.

Hmrc call received, she did not hang up. Outstanding tax bill, they knew the exact amount the business should have ( and did) pay at the end of January. They knew all her personal details. They cited that she would be at the (named) local court the next day, that the local ( name of office ) bailiffs were attending later that afternoon. She was frightened and they were very threatening to her. She transferred a significant amount to them. One bank called and stopped it straight away. The other let her make six payments online to an account allegedly in her name, despite bank one warning them.

I am a solicitor. She didn't call me because she thought I might be busy. AngryAngryAngryAngryeven when they threatened court. I can feel my anger just typing this. She asked for security check, they rang her mobile from "hmrc" number shown on website.

I am absolutely horrified she fell for this, she is utterly broken. That was her savings, she will not get it back. I cannot understand why she was duped, other than confusion and bombardment.

She is frightened and embarrassed. The police were there much of the afternoon and it was reported locally. I don't think she will ever recover.