Examples of HMRC related phishing emails, suspicious phone calls and texts

HMRC will never ring you out of the blue threatening arrest, demanding instant payment, or asking you to pay in gift cards or cryptocurrency. Never. If it claims to be HMRC and it's urgent and threatening, it's a scammer. Hang up. Contact HMRC directly using the number on your most recent letter or at gov.uk/contact-hmrc.

The crooks are getting better at mimicking official letters and emails, so don't rely on how something looks ΓÇö check it yourself by ringing HMRC on a number you find independently, never one they've given you. If you've already clicked a link or given details, report it to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau at action.fraud.org.uk straightaway.