Taxpayers are being warned about fake tax refund offers.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned that people who have filed a tax return for the 2022-23 tax year by the January 31 deadline could receive an email, phone call or text message offering them a tax refund.
Phishing scams are designed to use personal information to sell goods to criminals or gain access to people's bank accounts.
By copying the design and branding of genuine websites, criminals can trick people into providing personal information. This information is then sold or used to access people's bank accounts.
In the year to January this year, HMRC responded to 207,800 referrals from the public about suspicious contacts, a 14% increase on the number reported in the previous 12 months. Thousands of referrals suggested fake tax refunds.
HMRC also reported that internet service providers had been ordered to take down 26,443 malicious web pages by January. This is a 29% increase compared to removals requested by HMRC the previous year.
The IRS says it will not notify customers via email, text or phone call that they need a refund or request a refund.
People can receive repayments into a bank account of their choice and view all transactions in their HMRC account online and in the HMRC app.
People can forward suspicious emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and report tax fraud phone calls to HMRC at gov.uk.
They can forward suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599.
Kelly Paterson, HMRC’s chief security officer, said: “With tax filing deadlines approaching, criminals will now try to trick people with fake tax refund offers.
“Scammers attempt to trick people through emails, phone calls or text messages that mimic government messages.
“Don’t rush into anything, take your time and check HMRC fraud advice on gov.uk.”