Trading Standards Scotland has issued a warning over scam messages impersonating HMRC offering bogus tax rebates

HMRC never sends notifications of tax rebates or ask for personal/banking information via email or text.

The organisation reported a huge rise in scams impersonating them during the pandemic, with over one million reports in the past year. 

The aim of the scams is to obtain your personal details and payment information, and may centre around lawsuits, compromised or invalid National Insurance, unpaid tax and tax fraud.

A spokesperson for TSS said: "HMRC advise that you should be suspicious if you receive an unexpected call asking for money or offering financial help.

"They will never phone, text or email to ask for bank details or tell you to transfer money and they will never ask you to pay with gift or payment vouchers.

"They will never leave a voicemail threatening legal action. National Insurance numbers do not expire and you will never be asked to apply for a new number.

"HMRC will only call you to ask about a claim or payment on a debt that you already know about. Scam calls are often automated - the message may ask you to press 1 to be connected to an advisor and they will ask you to act urgently.

"Be suspicious of any unexpected phone call which appears to be from an official company or organisation and tells you that you must provide your details or a payment within a certain time frame.

"If you receive a suspicious call which asks for personal information, a payment, or threatens you with legal action, do not give out any personal or banking details. Do not press 1 or follow any other instructions given in an automated message."

For more information go to www.gov.uk/guidance/check-a-list-of-genuine-hmrc-contacts.