Our counter fraud provider has made us aware of recent scams targeting overseas staff.
An NHS doctor received a phone call from a withheld number, purporting to be calling from His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, often referred to as HMRC. They demanded payment, threatening to remove their passport if payment was not made. This is a scam.
HMRC is the tax authority of the UK government. It is responsible for collecting taxes, and enforcing tax and customs laws. Everyone pays tax on earnings above £12,571. Calculations are completed automatically and the tax is deducted from your salary.
Most people will never need to speak to HMRC, and if you over/underpay tax you will receive a letter after year end and either receive a cheque, or have your code adjusted to pay more next year.
You will never be asked to make a payment to HMRC directly, and there is never any urgency to their enquiries.
Some key points of note:
- HMRC will never call, email or message you. They will always write to you by letter
- they will never ask you to make a payment
- they will never communicate with you over WhatsApp or any other messaging platform
- they will never ask you for your payslips, ID documents or other material
- they have no powers to arrest for errors in your tax, and cannot confiscate your documents.
If you are concerned you can speak to payroll, your manager, or the Counter Fraud Team.