Published 5 February 2007
Last updated 2 December
2024
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2 December 20242025
The email address for reporting suspicious social media accounts has been updated.
The COVID-19 scams section has been removed.
2 December 2024
The email address to let us know about social media scams has been updated.
22 April 2024
We have updated the 'QR codes' section of this guide, as we now use QR codes to take you to websites other than GOV.UK. If a QR code does not take you to GOV.UK, we will tell you.
15 April 2024
An updated example of an HMRC related phishing email and phishing website has been added to English and Welsh version of this guidance.
31 January 2024
Information about the new UK Government WhatsApp Channel, and how HMRC will use the Channel, has been added.
15 September 2023
Information about how HMRC use QR codes has been updated.
10 August 2023
Information about when HMRC might send you a text message has been updated.
27 June 2023
Information about how HMRC use QR codes has been updated.
30 January 2023
Information about how HMRC use QR codes has been added.
19 January 2023
Information about when HMRC might send you a text message if you call one of our helplines from a mobile phone, and what it might include has been added.
17 May 2022
Examples of a scam email and a phishing website have been updated.
1 October 2021
Phishing and scam examples updated and up to date screenshots included. 'HMRC customs duty scams' section added.
26 April 2021
An image of a scam email for claiming the SEISS fourth grant has been added.
27 January 2021
Examples of email and text scams have been updated including Coronavirus (COVID-19) scams
22 January 2021
The 'Suspicious phone calls' section has been amended to include scam calls relating to National Insurance Number fraud.
10 September 2020
An updated example of an HMRC related phishing email and phishing website has been added to English and Welsh version of this guidance.
27 March 2020
Information has been added about a coronavirus (COVID-19) SMS scam that tells customers they have been fined £250 for leaving the house.
23 March 2020
This page has been updated to let you know that HMRC is aware of COVID-19-Corona Virus SMS scams telling customers they can claim a ‘goodwill payment’.
13 March 2020
An example of an email phishing scam related to the coronavirus - COVID-19 has been added to the Welsh version of this guidance.
10 March 2020
An example of an email phishing scam related to the coronavirus - COVID-19 has been added.
10 July 2019
The guidance has been updated with information about 'WhatsApp' messages.
15 March 2019
A new example of a HMRC related phishing email scam has been added.
7 March 2019
The guidance has been updated with new examples of a bogus email, website. Guidance on requests to complete NRL1 forms and return by fax has been removed.
2 July 2018
The guidance has been updated with new examples of a bogus email, website, text message and PDF attachment.
5 January 2018
The Bogus callers section has been removed and replaced with a new Bogus phone calls section.
17 October 2017
A new type of Tax Rebate phishing scam, that contains PDF attachments, has been added.
13 September 2017
Bogus callers section updated with new information.
20 July 2017
Phishing examples have been updated.
5 January 2017
Message warning of 'Recorded message threatening legal action' added to English and Welsh versions.
28 June 2016
A new type of phishing scam regarding 'Tax Returns', which is being circulated in high volumes, has been added.
29 April 2016
A new type of phishing scam which is being circulated in high volumes has been added to the pdf.
13 April 2016
A new type of phishing scam which is being circulated in high volumes has been added to the pdf.
25 February 2016
Text changes and references made to include 'text / SMS messages' in English and Welsh versions of the PDF. As HM Revenue and Customs are receiving a high number of referrals each month relating to bogus text messages.
14 October 2015
Phishing examples have been updated.
1 October 2015
The phishing examples have been updated and include up to date screen shots.
17 June 2015
New phishing scam example added to page 9 of the pdf document.
24 February 2015
Section 11 of the PDF has been updated to ask customers to forward phishing SMS messages to HMRC.
2 February 2015
A new phishing SMS scam image added to the PDF.
30 January 2015
Added translation
22 January 2015
Document changed to clarify the position regarding SMS messages sent from HMRC
19 January 2015
A new phishing scam is added to the phishing examples PDF.
17 December 2014
Updated PDF attached
5 February 2007
First published.