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Very, Very Realistic HMRC Scam Letter

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antropy

antropy

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    Aug 2, 2010
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    West Sussex, UK
    www.antropy.co.uk
    Just a warning to everyone to be extra careful really as I'm pretty clued up on phishing and scams etc. as I've been a developer for years and always very involved in the Internet but this letter from HMRC almost got me, saying I've missed NI contributions for the last 3 months of the tax year which is very easy to do as a director.

    It tries to get you to call 03002003819 but all other contact details are correct.

    There's more info and a pic of the letter I received in a blog article I wrote about it. I hope seeing this helps others avoid it: https://www.antropy.co.uk/blog/very-realistic-hmrc-scam-03002003819/

    Paul.
     
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    antropy said:
    It was a letter in the post, in the official HMRC brown envelope, as you'll see as there's a picture I took of it at the link I posted.

    Paul.
    Click to expand...
    Very scary and very much like the real thing as you say seems these people will stop at nothing. I have had two phone calls just this week alone reporting to be from HMRC. when I reverse checked the numbers on Google they coming from an office in Glasgow
     
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    antropy said:
    Just a warning to everyone to be extra careful really as I'm pretty clued up on phishing and scams etc. as I've been a developer for years and always very involved in the Internet but this letter from HMRC almost got me, saying I've missed NI contributions for the last 3 months of the tax year which is very easy to do as a director.

    It tries to get you to call 03002003819 but all other contact details are correct.

    There's more info and a pic of the letter I received in a blog article I wrote about it. I hope seeing this helps others avoid it: https://www.antropy.co.uk/blog/very-realistic-hmrc-scam-03002003819/

    Paul.
    Click to expand...
    Thank you. I have sent the link to other people.
     
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    Paul - the letter is absolutely genuine and the phone number is not a scam despite all of the online comments to the contrary.

    That is not to say that you owe the money of course, it may be that you have paid it and it has been misallocated by HMRC or it may be that your payment and their letter have crossed.

    I would say that if you log into your PAYE online account you will see exactly those month 10, 11 and 12 liabilities (either paid or not).

    We received a letter from HMRC quoting exactly that phone number this morning and not only the PAYE reference was correct but the outstanding balances exactly agreed to the payrolls that we have administered for them. It is inconceivable that a scammer would know the correct payment reference and also the monthly liabilities
     
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    Jaydee said:
    Paul - the letter is absolutely genuine and the phone number is not a scam despite all of the online comments to the contrary.

    That is not to say that you owe the money of course, it may be that you have paid it and it has been misallocated by HMRC or it may be that your payment and their letter have crossed.

    I would say that if you log into your PAYE online account you will see exactly those month 10, 11 and 12 liabilities (either paid or not).

    We received a letter from HMRC quoting exactly that phone number this morning and not only the PAYE reference was correct but the outstanding balances exactly agreed to the payrolls that we have administered for them. It is inconceivable that a scammer would know the correct payment reference and also the monthly liabilities
    Click to expand...

    Oh well - even if it is genuine it doesn't hurt to be reminded that scammers are out there and getting better at their craft all the time.
     
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    antropy said:
    Just a warning to everyone to be extra careful really as I'm pretty clued up on phishing and scams etc. as I've been a developer for years and always very involved in the Internet but this letter from HMRC almost got me, saying I've missed NI contributions for the last 3 months of the tax year which is very easy to do as a director.

    It tries to get you to call 03002003819 but all other contact details are correct.

    There's more info and a pic of the letter I received in a blog article I wrote about it. I hope seeing this helps others avoid it: https://www.antropy.co.uk/blog/very-realistic-hmrc-scam-03002003819/

    Paul.
    Click to expand...

    Question - did the letter have your UTR on it, and have you rung the main HMRC debt management number to check?
     
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    number is legit just idiots reported it wrong or they were unhappy with HMRC calling them or god knows. Based on the coding of the number this is within the range expected.

    03002003819 or 030020038XX is HMRC and the last 2 digits is a different route within their HMRC assigned number range.
     
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    antropy said:
    Thanks for the comments everyone, so it's possible it is legit.

    I'll investigate further but I'm pretty sure we've paid all our liabilities and those comments on the "who called me" website all said the letter was a scam.

    Thanks anyway, I'll report back.

    Paul.
    Click to expand...
    Any unpopular organisation's numbers on those kind of sites are listed as scams. I think people who don't pay what they owe use it to make themselves feel better.
     
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    atmosbob said:
    Just because its legit doesn't mean its not a scam. :D
    Click to expand...
    Indeed.

    Anyway, looking further, logging in to HMRC it does seem they think we owe those amounts, but I can also see from our bank that we have paid them.

    So it seems they haven't matched our payment against our account somehow.

    But it does seem like the letter is actually from HMRC, thanks again to those who pointed that out.

    You can see why I was mislead by those comments on the "who called me" site though I hope.

    Paul.
     
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    antropy said:
    So it seems they haven't matched our payment against our account somehow.
    Click to expand...
    I had a £2200 payment demand once when the reality was they owed me £2200. When they phoned me months later to tell me about their mistake they referred to it as "good news". That lit my blue touch paper in a big way.
     
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    antropy said:
    It seems like the Basic PAYE Tools software told us the total due was a certain amount, but that the HMRC website thinks it should have been around £500 more for some unknown reason.

    I'm trying to talk to them now but obviously on hold and have been for ages.

    Paul.
    Click to expand...

    Employment Allowance not claimed via Basic Tools and so the difference is the Employer's NI perhaps?
     
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    atmosbob said:
    I had a £2200 payment demand once when the reality was they owed me £2200. When they phoned me months later to tell me about their mistake they referred to it as "good news". That lit my blue touch paper in a big way.
    Click to expand...
    I bet!

    Still on hold, they're blaming Coronavirus for the delay :mad:

    Paul.
     
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    antropy said:
    It seems like the Basic PAYE Tools software told us the total due was a certain amount, but that the HMRC website thinks it should have been around £500 more for some unknown reason.

    I'm trying to talk to them now but obviously on hold and have been for ages.

    Paul.
    Click to expand...
    Always try to ring them at 8.00 am. You rarely wait long.
     
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    antropy said:
    I'm wondering whether to change it with an update to say my bad, or just delete.
    Click to expand...

    I think you can make it a useful reflection on how scammers are really messing life to the extent that nothing can be trusted anymore.
     
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    antropy said:
    Yes, I will, don't worry.

    I'm wondering whether to change it with an update to say my bad, or just delete.

    Paul.
    Click to expand...

    I would modify it to say that it is genuine but here's how you check etc. If you get anything that says it's from HMRC and looks genuine, it doesn't hurt to give them a call on their genuine number, from the HMRC website or send them a letter.

    HMRC seem to be in a bit of a mess right now, so I expect to start receiving demand letters from them soon. I think our last VAT submission has gone wrong.
     
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    Very, Very Realistic HMRC Scam Letter! SHOCK HORROR SCOOP!
    Which is not actually a Scam Letter - But, surely demonstrates how to construct one?
     
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    Just thought that I would add to this thread - I received a letter chasing unpaid PAYE (which has been paid).

    On calling the number on the letter (0300 200 3819) from my mobile, the name 'Pro Tax Plus Accountants' is shown! Searching that number shows a lot of accountants saying that this is a scam letter...

    Just tried calling 0300 200 3200 and gone around in circles, then told they are too busy....
     
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    When I get an email from HMRC the emails says they never include the message and I should log in to my HMRC account to read it.
     
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