Despite continued efforts to combat telephone scams, fraudulent HMRC legal claim calls remain a persistent issue in the UK. It's really important to remain vigilant and cautious when receiving such calls ...
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Be cautious of unknown or withheld numbers as scammers may use these to make it more difficult to trace the call back to them. It's always better to err on the side of caution when dealing with unknown numbers.
- Verify the caller's identity, by asking for the caller's name, department, and extension. You can then hang up and call HMRC's official helpline to confirm the information.
- Educate yourself about common scam tactics. Familiarise yourself with the tactics scammers use to deceive people, such as aggressive language, threats of legal action, or offers of refunds that sound too good to be true.
- You should stay updated on the latest scams by visiting reliable news sources, such as the BBC, to keep yourself informed about the latest scams.
- Share your knowledge about scams with friends, family, and colleagues. The more people are aware of these scams, the less likely they are to fall victim to them.
- If you suspect you've received a fraudulent call, report it to Action Fraud, the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. This can help authorities track down the scammers and protect others from becoming victims.
By taking these steps and remaining vigilant, you can reduce the chances of falling prey to these fraudulent HMRC legal claim calls and help safeguard others in your community.
To protect yourself from these scams, it's essential to be aware of HMRC's official communication methods and to question any suspicious calls. HMRC will never request personal information, demand immediate payments, or threaten legal action over the phone.
If you receive a call that you believe to be fraudulent, it's important to report it to the appropriate authorities to help prevent others from falling victim to these scams.
If you'd like to find out more about anything I've written here, do call me on 01908 774323 or leave a comment below and let's see how I can help you.