Warning over tax scam phone calls in Bedfordshire

TAXPAYERS in Bedfordshire are being warned about thieves who are calling people and pretending to be the taxman.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Aug 2010, 11:56 GMT

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging residents to be vigilant, following phone calls where fraudsters inform taxpayers that they are due a tax rebate, and ask for their bank details over the telephone. They then attempt to take money from the account using the details provided.

Victims risk having their bank accounts emptied and their personal details sold on to other organised criminal gangs.

The warning comes amid a recent surge in the number of tax scam ‘phishing’ emails reported to HMRC. In the last three months, HMRC has shut down more than 180 websites that were responsible for sending out such emails. Chris Hopson, director of customer contact at HMRC, said: “We only ever contact customers who are due a tax refund in writing by post.”