THE Huntingdon office of George Hay chartered accountants is warning that scams are starting to emerge with bogus organisations claiming to represent HM Revenue and Customs to get access to bank details. Only a few months after HM Revenue and Customs (HMR

THE Huntingdon office of George Hay chartered accountants is warning that scams are starting to emerge with bogus organisations claiming to represent HM Revenue and Customs to get access to bank details.

Only a few months after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced it would start contacting taxpayers by text to discuss their tax affairs, the accountants say taxpayers have received electronic communications from bogus organisations which offer to refund overpaid tax directly into the recipient's bank account, if they provide the details.

HMRC has made it clear that it does not contact taxpayers by e-mail regarding tax refunds, nor would it ever ask for bank details by text or e-mail. If anyone is in doubt about any communication purporting to be from HMRC, they should not give out any information, and should instead report the details to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.

Barry Jefferd from George Hay said "A further potential complication may arise from the fact that HMRC is now appointing private companies to collect tax, although it has pledged to inform anyone affected - so any taxpayer receiving unsolicited messages from anyone claiming to be such a company should again report it to HMRC".