Royal Mail scam warning as HMRC alerts UK taxpayers to delivery scam emails
HMRC warned people over fraudulent emails that have been circulating in people's inboxes this week. With the festive season on the horizon, taxpayers are being cautioned to be wary of deceptive emails purporting to be about Royal Mail deliveries.
A vigilant UK resident took to Twitter to seek clarification on a suspicious email they had received, querying: "@HMRCcustomers I've received an email saying Royal Mail tried to deliver a large letter from HMRC but couldn't. Please click to rearrange. This is a scam? " In response, HMRC confirmed the fraudulent nature of the email.
"Hi, this is not a genuine email. You need to report a tax scam email call here. You can also find detailed information about HMRC phishing and scams here."
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The individual expressed their thanks for the swift confirmation from HMRC. "You are welcome and thanks for contacting us . Tell us how we did by completing our short survey at http://forms.office.com/e/aBFdaJHCej and help us improve the service we can offer you. Amandine," HMRC responded, as reported by Birmingham Live, reports the Manchester Evening News.
HMRC advises on its website: "Use the following checklist to decide if the contact you've received is a scam. You can use it for phone calls, emails and text messages."
The tax authority also warns that messages which appear urgent and threatening may well be scams. HMRC has issued a stern warning about potential scams. They've stated that an email could be fraudulent if it is unexpected, requests personal details such as bank information, or instructs you to transfer money.
It could also be a scam if it promises a refund, tax rebate, or grant. If you have disclosed personal information, you can report this to the HMRC security team. If you've fallen victim to a scam and suffered financial loss, you should report it to Action Fraud, or to Police Scotland on 101 if you reside in Scotland.