Scam? 31 October 2022 at 11:59AM in Cutting tax 17 replies 1.6K views

71peyman71

Hi.
I have just received a call from 03002003884 and the woman on the line claimed to be from HMRC regarding a complaint I made a few months ago. She asked me to confirm my address and NI number which she apparently had. She then went on to tell me about a tax return case which I have pending with HMRC (which is correct) so I thought it was genuine. She said I have to do a tax return, which again is correct and referred to a letter I have been sent by HMRC. So far I believed her. Then she called back saying they want to offer me £40 for the inconvenience as they did not deal with my complaint in a timely manner and wanted my account number. Obviously, I refused to give her it and asked for a cheque. She said they don't send cheques but she will send me an email to follow instructions online for the compensation!
So far no email has arrived.

A search of the internet shows it's a scam. So my question is, how do these people know so much about me and my HMRC case? They even know that I have to file a tax return. 

I have reported the number. But I wanted to know if anyone else has had a similar experience with this number.

Thanks 

cymruchris

I have recently received a £50 payment from HMRC following a complaint I'd made which hadn't been dealt with in a timely manner. I gave them my bank details, and the payment was credited in a few days following. 

If you've written to them about an issue - and they've been in touch - and they know the details of your complaint/issue then it's unlikely to be a scam, although as always trust your instincts.

71peyman71

cymruchris said:

I have recently received a £50 payment from HMRC following a complaint I'd made which hadn't been dealt with in a timely manner. I gave them my bank details, and the payment was credited in a few days following. 

If you've written to them about an issue - and they've been in touch - and they know the details of your complaint/issue then it's unlikely to be a scam, although as always trust your instincts.

It really is difficult to know. She sounded so unprofessional. I am definitely not giving them my bank details. No money is worth the risk. If it is genuine, I am sure they will find a way to get back to me. I am not risking my details for the sake of £40. 

cymruchris

I don't remember the details because I was happy to hand over my details as I was confident they were HMRC knowing the ins and outs of my issue - but my call handler did mention there was an alternate way to receive the funds, but didn't pay much attention as to what that was. You can call them back and ask what alternative options there are to receive payment - it might have involved being sent a form. You obviously know what you wrote to them about - if the call handler can verify the content of your complaint once you've passed the security questions - I'd not worry about handing over a sort code and account number - but that's your choice. A quick google does show the number belongs to HMRC. 

71peyman71

Thanks. My google search shows that most people think it's a scam. 

It comes down to HMRC and why they don't just clarify if this number is genuine. 

Anyway, she called again and I told her point blank that I think she is a scam and I have reported her. She replied very emphatically with a "nope". Again, sounded very unprofessional. I find it hard to believe that HMRC employees speak like this.

Jeremy535897

Businesses put their bank account details on invoices all the time. Many small businesses rely on the banks' faster payment system using online banking. Fraudsters need passwords and/or PINs and/or memorable information to defraud. Unfortunately a lot of people use obvious passwords etc, giving fraudsters a chance of defrauding you when they just have your bank account details, by guessing.

The number you mention is ascribed to HMRC, but numbers can be spoofed. If the caller knew specific information, like your address and NINO, rather than something that can be guessed (like the need to fill in a tax return), it is unlikely that it is a fraudster. I don't think you can make any judgment based on the use of colloquialisms. Some of the tax "advice" given by HMRC over the telephone is just plain wrong, and you can get three different answers from three different people, so quite how much "professional" training they receive is debatable.

HMRC say they don't ask for bank details, but when you look at the detail, they say they don't ask for such details by email or text. They do also mention things that make a phone call suspicious though, and those factors include asking for bank details, and offering a refund. The place to report the call as suspicious is explained here:
 https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/reporting-fraudulent-emails

purdyoaten2

03002003884 is a genuine HMRC number. I received a call from it on 6th October. 

The call was in response to a ‘lost’ tax payment made by a client which turned out to have be allocated incorrectly. 

Fully accept the ‘spoofing’ possibility as raised by Jeremy, but not on this occasion.

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

for £40 just forget it, if you give details you might worry about what might happen.

71peyman71

Jeremy535897 said:

Businesses put their bank account details on invoices all the time. Many small businesses rely on the banks' faster payment system using online banking. Fraudsters need passwords and/or PINs and/or memorable information to defraud. Unfortunately a lot of people use obvious passwords etc, giving fraudsters a chance of defrauding you when they just have your bank account details, by guessing.

The number you mention is ascribed to HMRC, but numbers can be spoofed. If the caller knew specific information, like your address and NINO, rather than something that can be guessed (like the need to fill in a tax return), it is unlikely that it is a fraudster. I don't think you can make any judgment based on the use of colloquialisms. Some of the tax "advice" given by HMRC over the telephone is just plain wrong, and you can get three different answers from three different people, so quite how much "professional" training they receive is debatable.

HMRC say they don't ask for bank details, but when you look at the detail, they say they don't ask for such details by email or text. They do also mention things that make a phone call suspicious though, and those factors include asking for bank details, and offering a refund. The place to report the call as suspicious is explained here:
 https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/reporting-fraudulent-emails

I understand this. I called the number from a different phone and there was a recorded message from HMRC saying I have missed their call. 

It may be genuine, but I as long as I have doubts, I won't cooperate. £40 is not worth my peace of mind. I am sure if HMRC is sincere, they will find me again.  

cymruchris

71peyman71 said:

Jeremy535897 said:

Businesses put their bank account details on invoices all the time. Many small businesses rely on the banks' faster payment system using online banking. Fraudsters need passwords and/or PINs and/or memorable information to defraud. Unfortunately a lot of people use obvious passwords etc, giving fraudsters a chance of defrauding you when they just have your bank account details, by guessing.

The number you mention is ascribed to HMRC, but numbers can be spoofed. If the caller knew specific information, like your address and NINO, rather than something that can be guessed (like the need to fill in a tax return), it is unlikely that it is a fraudster. I don't think you can make any judgment based on the use of colloquialisms. Some of the tax "advice" given by HMRC over the telephone is just plain wrong, and you can get three different answers from three different people, so quite how much "professional" training they receive is debatable.

HMRC say they don't ask for bank details, but when you look at the detail, they say they don't ask for such details by email or text. They do also mention things that make a phone call suspicious though, and those factors include asking for bank details, and offering a refund. The place to report the call as suspicious is explained here:
 https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/reporting-fraudulent-emails

I understand this. I called the number from a different phone and there was a recorded message from HMRC saying I have missed their call. 

It may be genuine, but I as long as I have doubts, I won't cooperate. £40 is not worth my peace of mind. I am sure if HMRC is sincere, they will find me again.  

Based on my own experience and what you’ve shared - you’re shooting yourself in the foot by not going for the £40 there are lots of scams out there - but this isn’t one of them.

You wrote a letter to discuss something.

They were slow. 

They offered a token payment gesture.

They used a recognised hmrc number.

They knew the specific reason for your enquiry. 

In many cases I’d say be wary and don’t do it - but in this one - if it was me I’d go ahead and get my £40. (As I’ve already received a payment in exactly the same circumstances.) 

DBdoobydoo

I have no idea why people get so precious about their bank account details. Your sort code & account number is on every cheque that you write. If there was a security issue in giving over your account details the banks wouldn't print the details on your cheques.