Witney News - Beware fraudsters claiming to be from the HMRC

Beware fraudsters claiming to be from the HMRC

Residents in West Oxfordshire are being warned of a phone scam that is currently taking place across the country.

Fraudsters pretending to be from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are calling unsuspecting residents and telling them they are under investigation and are due in court.

The automated phone message then asks you to press 1 to speak to a case officer. Please do not follow this instruction.

Instead, hang up immediately - this is a scam and if you continue with the phone call it could direct you to a premium-rate number which may accumulate very expensive charges on your phone bill without your knowledge.

The reminder follows calls to be extra vigilant about any emails from GOV.UK which claim the recipient is eligible to receive a tax refund. The email claims this can be recovered by completing and submitting a tax return form - the form asks for the recipient's bank details.

We advise all residents to be wary of any unsolicited calls and emails from unknown companies. If you cannot verify the identity of the caller, do not give out any personal details, especially bank details.

To report a suspected scam contact Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre:

Call: 0300 123 2040
Visit: www.actionfraud.police.uk