Scam?

Plasticman

Just phone HMRC, say that you had a call about this and ask them to confirm that it's genuine. If it is then give them the details. They'll have all the info on file so if you've been offered a refund they'll know when you call them.

Giving bank account number and sort code is pretty low risk (but not no risk).

MalMonroe

When I received a refund from HMRC they just deposited it into my bank account. So I must have given them the details at some point. Just my bank account number and sort code.

But surely they can send you a cheque if you have any doubts about the authenticity of their request?

I really can understand your reluctance to give out your bank account details because we do hear of so many clever scams these days. HMRC can issue cheques so why are they being difficult now? You would rather not disclose your details and they should respect that, as should everyone else.

£40 is £40 though and you can ask them to please send you a cheque. If they continue to be awkward, then complain about that. 

eskbanker

DBdoobydoo said:

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.

Back in the days when everyone used to write cheques, bank fraud was nothing like it is today, so that argument isn't really the killer one it perhaps once was....

71peyman71

MalMonroe said:

When I received a refund from HMRC they just deposited it into my bank account. So I must have given them the details at some point. Just my bank account number and sort code.

But surely they can send you a cheque if you have any doubts about the authenticity of their request?

I really can understand your reluctance to give out your bank account details because we do hear of so many clever scams these days. HMRC can issue cheques so why are they being difficult now? You would rather not disclose your details and they should respect that, as should everyone else.

£40 is £40 though and you can ask them to please send you a cheque. If they continue to be awkward, then complain about that. 

I did ask for a cheque and she said they can't do that. That's when I was really suspicious because I have had cheques from them before. 
She then said she will send me an email to follow instructions for the payment but the email never came. She did call back and that's when I told her I think she is scam and said bye. 

If you google the number, there are so many people saying it's a scam.

cymruchris

71peyman71 said:

If you google the number, there are so many people saying it's a scam.

That's partly because everyone has been programmed to think that way and as a result as soon as one person writes it's a scam - everyone jumps on the bandwagon without any proof... Human nature. I'm very much in agreement with you that in many cases it's a scam, and you do what you can to protect yourself - but I'm confident this one isn't. Have you checked your spam folders? If it's genuinely not there - get back onto the phone and ask for another email   

dil1976

Why were you happy to give them your national insurance number and address with no proof of who they are, yet as soon as they gave you several bits of evidence of the nature of the call all of which you confirmed you decided to provide no further information?

71peyman71

dil1976 said:

Why were you happy to give them your national insurance number and address with no proof of who they are, yet as soon as they gave you several bits of evidence of the nature of the call all of which you confirmed you decided to provide no further information?

That's a good question. At first I didn't think it could be scam but when she asked for my account details and said they don't send out cheques I was very suspicious. 

I was also surprised by the fact that she called back so soon after. My experience of state services is that they don't keep calling to solve your problem for various reasons, usually because they are too busy. Something told me that she believes she is close to scamming me. So I started googling and my suspicions were confirmed by what I read. It was a confusing call.

Anyway, I will follow up today and see if I can get her on the phone again.