Doorstep scammers pretending to be HMRC officials

Fraudsters and scammers have recently widened the scope of their illegal activities by visiting potential victims at their homes. One of the most popular ruses used by these door-stop scanners is to impersonate an HMRC official, with scams of this type significantly increasing in the last year or two.

So, with rapidly rising levels of fraud and doorstep imposters, HMRC has updated its guidance on how to check the identity of HMRC officers if they arrive at your premises or home. When an HMRC official visits your premises or home, it is essential to check their identity and ring the HMRC dedicated phone numbers, most of which are available 24 hours a day, to confirm they are genuine and not fraudsters. 

It is essential to use your own mobile phone or landline to make the call because, if you use the mobile of the person who has called at your home, if they are fraudsters, they can divert the call and make it appear to be answered by HMRC, when in fact it is being redirected to a scam call centre.

It is also important to note that HMRC debt collectors can only visit you between the hours of 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday’ unless they have made a prior appointment to visit you outside of normal hours or at the weekend.

How to verify a HMRC officer’s identity

A HMRC officer’s job is to review tax returns; conduct investigations and perform in-person business visits to ensure taxpayers pay the correct amount of direct and indirect tax. The officer should, without being asked, show you their HMRC identification card, which includes their name, photograph and HMRC serial number. The next step is to check this is above board by following these steps:

1. Make a note of the officer’s name and serial number
2. The officer should also give you a card showing an HMRC telephone number to call. The number should be (03000 565 656). If it’s not, close your door and telephone HMRC urgently
3. The alleged HMRC officer  may well have the correct number, but you must call the number and give the HMRC adviser the officer’s name and serial number
4. The adviser will confirm whether the person is a genuine HMRC officer.

The telephone number provided by the HMRC officer is available to call 24 hours a day and is available for the sole purpose of verifying the identity of HMRC officers in face-to-face situations.

How to confirm an HMRC collector’s identity

To avoid confusion, a HMRC collector, is a specially trained officer employed directly by HMRC to recover known and unpaid taxes. He/she has similar powers to a bailiff but a collector’s powers are significantly enhanced. To confirm his/her identity, follow the same steps as for a HMRC officer, except for the phone number to call, which is 0300 200 3862. As above, you should give the adviser the name and serial number to enable confirmation of their identity.

It is important to note that an HMRC collector will usually only visit you between 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Collectors can and do visit taxpayers outside of these hours but can only do if a prior arrangement has been made with the taxpayer.

Other things to note

It might also be worth double checking the official list of genuine HMRC contacts to help decide if the person on your doorstep is genuinely from HMRC,  as opposed to a fraudster trying to scam you. So, if you’re unsure, go to:  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/check-a-list-of-genuine-hmrc-contacts 

HMRC recently issued a statement following a recent spate of doorstop scammers posing as HMRC collectors and demanding immediate payment of an amount of outstanding tax. HMRC are increasingly worried about the sudden and rapid rise in these cons and recently issued the following statement:

“If someone visits you at any day or time, claiming to be a HMRC official, and you want to confirm their identity, arrange an appointment with them to return between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Also, ask them for proof of their identity and not to take it as a given that they are who they claim to be. Anyone representing HMRC will always identify themselves and explain why they are visiting you.” 

The HMRC spokesperson went on to say: “‘If you’re in the slightest bit unsure about whether the person you are dealing with is a genuine HMRC official, you can contact HMRC to check their identity and confirm they are actually truly employed by HMRC.”

Accountant’s view

From anecdotal chats with various HMRC officers in recent months, it appears that these despicable doorstep scammers are in particular targeting old people, especially those who live alone. So, make sure that if you or your relatives/friends fall into the vulnerable category, ensure that you have one or ideally both of the following security aids:

• A video doorbell that enables you to speak to the visitor without opening your door. And or:
• Instal a simple front door security chain. These simple devices usually cost less than £10, however, if you’re not able to fit it yourself, that wonderful charity Age Uk not only also fit it for you but also provide the chain free-of-charge.