High riskGovernment & Tax

Fake HMRC Tax Scam

This scam uses a text, call, or email posing as HMRC. It claims you owe tax and face arrest, or are due a refund, then pressures you to pay or hand over bank details through a link or over the phone.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Tax agency impersonation scam
Main red flag
A message or call claiming to be HMRC that threatens arrest or demands urgent payment or bank details.
What to do first
Do not pay or share details. Hang up or close the message and check your tax position through your own GOV.UK account.

How this scam works

This scam uses a text, call, or email posing as HMRC. It claims you owe tax and face arrest, or are due a refund, then pressures you to pay or hand over bank details through a link or over the phone.

Government and tax scams impersonate tax authorities, police, or agencies, using threats of arrest, fines, or deportation to force fast payment, often via gift cards, transfers, or crypto. Real agencies do not demand instant payment this way or threaten arrest by phone.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: A message or call claiming to be HMRC that threatens arrest or demands urgent payment or bank details. Do not pay or share details. Hang up or close the message and check your tax position through your own GOV.UK account.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the IRS Tax Scam and the CRA Tax Scam. See the full Government, Tax & Legal Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • Threats of immediate arrest, court action or a warrant over unpaid tax
  • Demands for payment by gift card, bank transfer or cryptocurrency
  • A refund offer that asks for your bank or card details through a link
  • Pressure to act within minutes and not to tell anyone or hang up
  • A link to a site that is not the official GOV.UK domain

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'HMRC FINAL NOTICE: You owe unpaid tax and a warrant is being issued for your arrest. Pay now to avoid action: [suspicious link]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: A message or call claiming to be HMRC that threatens arrest or demands urgent payment or bank details.

The scale of it

$2.7B
reported lost to imposter scams in the US in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
Gift cards
a top payment method scammers demand, which real agencies never use
Source: FTC Consumer Advice

How to protect yourself

  • End the call or close the message without paying or replying
  • Log in to your tax account directly through GOV.UK to check for any genuine messages
  • Call HMRC back using a number from the official GOV.UK website, not one given in the message
  • Report the contact to HMRC's phishing team and to Action Fraud

Already responded? Do this now

  • Do not enter card or bank details on the page that opened
  • If you already shared card or bank details, contact your bank immediately to protect your account
  • Change passwords for any account where you entered login details
  • Watch your statements and report any unexpected charges to your bank

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not pay using gift cards, vouchers, transfer or cryptocurrency
  • Do not share your full bank details, PIN or one-time codes
  • Do not let pressure or threats rush you into deciding on the spot

Related scams to know

High risk Government & Tax

IRS Tax Scam

This scam uses a call, voicemail, text, or email pretending to be the IRS or another tax agency, claiming you owe back taxes and threatening arrest, lawsuit, or deportation unless you pay at once by gift card, wire, or crypto.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Government & Tax

CRA Tax Scam

This scam uses a call, text, or email posing as the Canada Revenue Agency to claim you owe tax or are due a refund, then threatens arrest or demands payment by e-transfer, gift card, or crypto. The goal is to frighten you into paying or handing over personal details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Government & Tax

Benefits Payment Scam

This scam claims you qualify for a benefit, grant, or cost-of-living payment and asks you to 'apply' by entering personal and bank details on a fake government-looking site that harvests the information.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Does HMRC threaten arrest or demand instant payment by phone?
No. Genuine HMRC does not threaten immediate arrest or demand payment by gift card or transfer over the phone. Threats and unusual payment methods are common signs of a scam.
I am due a tax refund, so could the message be real?
Real refunds are handled through your GOV.UK tax account, not by clicking a link that asks for your bank or card details. Check your account directly rather than trusting the message.
How does HMRC actually contact people?
HMRC contacts you through official channels such as your GOV.UK account, official letters, and verified phone lines. It will not demand fees or your full bank details through a link.
What should I do if I already paid?
Contact your bank right away to report the payment and protect your account, then report it to Action Fraud. Acting quickly improves the chance of recovering or stopping funds.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.