Ignore tax scam messages

TAXPAYERS are being warned to ignore scam text messages claiming to be from HM Revenue & Customs.

The messages say the recipient is owed a tax rebate and ask them to fill in their details online at hm-taxreturn.co.uk.

The hoax reads: ‘You have an outstanding tax refund of 265.84 GBP for tax year 15/16. Please fill out the following form to process your refund.’ Most web browsers had blocked the site last night, warning it seemed to be a ‘phishing’ exercise to extract details. The taxman only sends details of genuine tax rebates in the post.

An HMRC spokesman says: ‘HMRC is a trusted brand that fraudsters regularly try to exploit. We will never send notifications of a tax rebate or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by text.

‘Suspicious messages can be sent to 60599 or emailed to