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HMRC ‘Pending Payment’ Text Message Phishing Scam

written by Brett M. Christensen October 8, 2018
HMRC Text Message Phishing Scam

People in the UK are receiving text messages about a supposed pending payment from UK tax agency HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). 

The message urges you to follow a link and fill in a form to claim your payment.

However, the message is not from HMRC and there is no pending payment.

Instead, the message is a phishing scam designed to steal your personal and financial information.

Here’s what the scam text message looks like:

HMRC Pending Payment Text Message Scam

If you follow the link, you will be taken to a fraudulent website that looks like it belongs to HMRC.  The bogus site includes the GOV.UK logo and secondary links to make it appear legitimate.  However, the site has no connection to GOV.UK.

Once on the fake site, you will be asked to provide your name and address:
HMRC Fake Name and Address Form

After you click the “Start Claim” button, a “Tax Refund Claim” form will load in your browser. The form asks for personal information, including your email address and email password and your credit card details:

Fake HMRC Tax Refund Claim FormFake Tax Refund Form HMRC

After completing the form, you may be redirected to the genuine HMRC website.

Meanwhile, online criminals can use the stolen information to commit credit card fraud, hijack your email account, and steal your identity. 

Tax refund scams like this  are very common and are often sent via email as well as SMS.  Such scams regularly target taxpayers in many different countries.

Be wary of any email or text message that claims that you can get a tax refund by clicking a link or opening an attached file.

HMRC has published information about phishing scams on its website.

 

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Brett Christensen