Child Benefit Update Phishing Scams in the United Kingdom
Fraudsters impersonate HMRC in texts and emails claiming a Child Benefit account needs updating, tricking UK parents into handing over banking and personal details on fake gov.uk lookalike pages.
Part of: Child Benefit Update Phishing Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Child Benefit in the United Kingdom is administered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), and any genuine correspondence about a claim comes from HMRC through the individual's Personal Tax Account or verified post. Scammers impersonate HMRC specifically because Child Benefit is a widely claimed, recurring payment that parents actively monitor, making update or verification messages feel routine and worth acting on quickly.
How this scam works on the United Kingdom
A text or email arrives claiming to be from HMRC, stating that the recipient's Child Benefit details need updating, that a payment is on hold pending verification, or that eligibility must be reconfirmed following a change in circumstances, with a link to a page designed to closely resemble the real gov.uk site. The fake page asks for the claimant's National Insurance number, date of birth, bank sort code and account number, and sometimes Government Gateway login details, all of which are then used to redirect real Child Benefit payments or commit wider identity fraud.
A common UK-specific variant references the High Income Child Benefit Charge or a supposed change to Child Benefit rates, exploiting genuine, well-publicized policy topics that make the fake message sound plausible to parents who have heard about real changes to the scheme through the news.
Common red flags
- A text or email claiming to be HMRC asking you to 'update' or 'verify' Child Benefit details via a link
- A link leading to a page that is not the genuine gov.uk domain, even if it looks visually similar
- Requests for your National Insurance number, bank details, and Government Gateway login all together
- References to Child Benefit rate changes or the High Income Child Benefit Charge used to create false urgency
- Threats that payments will stop unless you act within a short deadline
- Poor grammar, generic greetings, or a sender address that is not a genuine gov.uk address
How to protect yourself
- Access your Child Benefit account only by typing gov.uk directly into your browser or using the official HMRC app
- Never enter your National Insurance number, bank details, or Government Gateway login through a link in a text or email
- Verify any claimed issue with your Child Benefit by calling HMRC's official helpline, found on gov.uk
- Enable multi-factor authentication on your Government Gateway account
- Check the sender's actual email address carefully, not just the display name, before trusting any HMRC-branded message
- Report suspicious messages rather than replying or clicking any links
How to report it
- Forward suspicious emails to HMRC's phishing report address, [email protected]
- Forward suspicious texts to HMRC by forwarding to 60599
- Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040
- Contact your bank immediately if you have already shared banking details or noticed unauthorized changes
Frequently asked questions
Does HMRC ever text or email about Child Benefit updates?
HMRC may send some official communications, but never asks for bank details, National Insurance numbers, or login credentials via a link in a text or email, always verify through your account at gov.uk directly.
What should I do if I already clicked a link and entered my details?
Contact your bank immediately to protect your account, change your Government Gateway password, and report the phishing attempt to HMRC and Action Fraud.