HMRC Impersonation Scams
Scammers impersonate HMRC with threatening calls, fake tax-refund texts, and phishing emails demanding payment or personal details. The real HMRC will never demand gift-card payment or threaten immediate arrest on a cold call.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is the UK tax authority, and its name is routinely exploited by scammers targeting UK residents and businesses. Fake HMRC calls threatening arrest and fake tax-refund texts are among the most frequently reported scams in the UK.
A typical call involves someone claiming to be an HMRC investigator alleging tax fraud or underpayment, with threats of immediate arrest or legal action unless payment is made by an unusual method. Text and email versions mimic HMRC communications, often offering an unexpected tax refund to encourage you to hand over banking details.
HMRC is the victim of this impersonation. HMRC has a dedicated reporting process and publishes regular alerts about known scam campaigns.
How scammers impersonate it
- Calling and claiming to be HMRC officers threatening arrest for tax fraud or underpayment
- Sending texts claiming an HMRC tax refund is available and directing to a fake site
- Sending phishing emails mimicking HMRC branding about overdue tax payments
- Leaving automated voicemails claiming a legal case has been opened
- Spoofing HMRC phone numbers so the caller ID appears genuine
- Using HMRC's logo and wording in fraudulent letters or emails
What the real organisation never does
- Threaten immediate arrest on a cold call for tax debt
- Accept payment via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- Demand you stay on the phone while you make a payment
- Send a text with a link to claim a tax refund directly
- Ask for your full bank account or card details over the phone to process a refund
- Demand payment without prior written correspondence
Common red flags
- Threatening call claiming HMRC will have you arrested unless you pay immediately
- Text or email offering a tax refund via a link
- Request for gift cards, iTunes cards, or cryptocurrency as payment
- Caller becomes aggressive if you try to end the call
- Email sender or link domain does not match gov.uk
- Urgency — 'police will arrive within the hour'
- Automated robocall voicemail mentioning a warrant or case number
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Call: 'This is HMRC — a case of tax evasion has been filed against you. To avoid arrest today, you must pay [amount] via [method].'
Text: 'HMRC: You are due a tax refund of [amount]. Claim at [fake link].'
Email: 'Immediate action required: Your tax account shows an overdue balance of [amount]. Pay at [fake link] to avoid penalties.'
How to verify
- Log in to your HMRC account at gov.uk/hmrc-online-services to check your tax position
- Genuine HMRC contact starts with letters — an unexpected call threatening arrest is almost certainly a scam
- Call the HMRC helpline using a number from gov.uk, not a number provided by the caller
- HMRC does not accept gift cards, cryptocurrency, or iTunes cards as payment
- Report suspicious HMRC texts to 60599 and suspicious emails to [email protected]
What to do if you're targeted
- Hang up without paying anything
- Report suspicious calls, texts, and emails to HMRC at gov.uk/report-hmrc-scam-emails
- Report the crime to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk
- If you made a payment, contact your bank or the gift card issuer immediately
Frequently asked questions
HMRC left a voicemail saying police will arrest me — is that real?
No. This is a well-known scam tactic. HMRC does not leave voicemails threatening immediate arrest. Delete the message and report it to HMRC and Action Fraud.
I got a text about a tax refund from HMRC — how do I claim it?
Do not click any link in the text. Log in to your HMRC account at gov.uk directly to check whether a genuine refund is owed. Report the suspicious text to 60599.
Could HMRC ever call me out of the blue?
HMRC may call in some circumstances, but they will have previously written to you, and they will never threaten arrest or demand immediate payment via unusual methods on a first contact call.