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HMRC phone call

(14 Posts)
Oldwoman70 Fri 20-Jul-18 12:17:57

Just had one of those scam calls. Apparently legal action is going to be taken against me and I should ring the number!

Now I know my tax affairs are all up to date, that HMRC do not contact people by phone and certainly not with a recorded message BUT why has it left me feeling anxious

cornergran Fri 20-Jul-18 12:20:36

Its the unexpected nature and invasion of privacy that gets to me with these calls which are also fairly threatening. If you still feel uneasy then give HMRC a call, if the number was shown it can be reported. Don't feel uneasy, you did just the right thing by not responding.

Maybelle Fri 20-Jul-18 12:31:37

Echo what cornergran says, don't let it worry you, and do phone up HMRC and give them the information of when and what number you were asked to phone back. It will help to settle your mind And may help HMRC in stopping these scan calls.

fourormore Fri 20-Jul-18 13:24:43

If you have the number that called you, do check it on 'who-called.co.uk'
We have a call blocker. Any unrecognised number (not those we have cleared on our whitelist) is intercepted. The caller is then told that our number does not accept sales/survey calls etc.
If they feel they would be accepted the caller can press zero and they will get through to us. We can then accept or, if we don't want future calls from them we can blacklist them then.
From experience not many press the zero which makes us feel they are call centres or someone who doesn't want us that badly!
Check out who-called.co.uk/
I always check that site and it is amazing the list of others that have been plagued by these calls.

HildaW Fri 20-Jul-18 13:33:25

If ever in any doubt - just say 'well you obviously have my details so please put the matter in a letter'

MillieBear Fri 20-Jul-18 13:51:59

This happened to my elderly mother a few months back and really frightened her but fortunately she didn't call them and give her details. It was indeed a scam and (for what it was worth) was reported to police.

Nonnie Fri 20-Jul-18 13:57:04

Yes, I have felt very insecure this morning too so I understand. My Norton has decided that Facebook and NatWest are fraudulent website and blocked me. I went onto their livechat and a very helpful person suggested I allowed him remote access to my PC. I declined and he told me what to do then suggested I logged back onto NatWest but I wasn't happy so tried Facebook and it still didn't work. He then asked me for the link to my bank and I declined that as well. He probably was Norton but he could have been a rogue employee. My maxim is if in doubt don't.

NfkDumpling Fri 20-Jul-18 17:23:32

I’ve had McAfee take control of my computer to sort out a problem and it’s quite eerie and fascinating watching everything happen on the screen. I could see what he opened and accessed. But that didn’t involve a bank, I’m not sure I’d have let him do that.

Rufus2 Sat 21-Jul-18 10:59:50

Apparently legal action is going to be taken against me and I should ring the number

Exactly the same thing here in Melbourne, just a few days ago! The number to ring seemed plausible being a Melb. No.. I reported it to our Tax Office Scam Watch and learned that (a) these numbers can be obsolete, bought and used to scare the hell out of recipients, or (b) more likely primed to switch you automatically to a scam site, probably o/s.
The stern man's voice concluded " Do not ignore"!
That could give a non-tech. elderly person a heart attack! The cunning buggers! sad

Oldwoman70 Sat 21-Jul-18 12:38:44

Yes the last words were "please do not ignore" - perhaps UK scammers are slightly more polite than Australian ones grin

fourormore Sat 21-Jul-18 16:38:16

Oldwoman70 did you check the number on who-called.co.uk ?
Is worth a check! If you're unsure, if you want to PM me the telephone number they were ringing from (and also the number they wanted you to ring) I would be more than happy to check it for you smile

Minty Sat 21-Jul-18 17:23:41

I also got a call yesterday, and then receive this from the Police "Please be aware that there have been 2 reports this morning of a scam phone call posing to be from HMRC. In the call it mentions a warrant number and a legal case for your arrest filed against your name. They then give you a number 020 3287 0055 to call. Please DO NOT call this number.

The language in the call sounds official and can easily trick an vulnerable or elderly member of public; please can I ask that you check up on your elderly or vulnerable neighbours to warn them.

If you have received a message like this please report it via Action Fraud: www.actionfraud.police.uk/ or call 0300 123 2040. Action Fraud look into all types of fraud."

allsortsofbags Sat 21-Jul-18 17:24:01

I had one of these calls late last year.

Irony was OH was on skype to HMRC in the dining room as I picked up the landline in the living room.

I played stupid as I was writing a note for OH.

I said let me put you on to OH he does our tax, not true but ...

I had passed OH the note and he showed it to lady from HMRC on the camera before I put phone on speaker.

The line went dead very quickly when lady from HMRC asked the caller what the call was related to Ha Ha Ha.

Lady from HMRC gave us a Ref number and after sorting out OH's tax questions she put us through to some one and they said trying to close numbers down was almost a daily thing.

But these things are unsettling. Makes me angry but all we can do is try to stay aware and informed.

paddyann Sat 21-Jul-18 18:39:09

I've had that call every week now for months.The first time I was anxious even though I knew our tax is always dealt with efficiantly and on time .I think its just that it comes out of the blue and leaves you doubting yourself.