Halton Borough Council’s Trading Standards Officers are warning residents about more scam HMRC text messages currently being circulated.
They come a week after a warning about a telephone scam from people claiming to be from the organisation.
The text message attached is a scam, which wants you click the link inbedded within it.
Trading Standard officers say the link will likely contain at least of one of three things:
1. Malware that may harm your device
2. Ransomware which locks your device and the scammer will then request a payment to release it.
3. Demand/request for you to supply personal details or bank account information.
Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for Trading Standards, Cllr Dave Cargill, said: “HMRC never sends notifications of a tax rebate or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email or text message.
“Forward suspicious text messages to 60599 (Text messages will be charged at your network rate).”
The 60599 number is the reporting number for HMRC text scams as per the HMRC website.
See:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/reporting-fraudulent-emails
If you or somebody you know has been caught out by a scam or fraud please contact one of our specialist officers, Linda or Sue on 0151 511 8785 or 0151 511 8775, who are already working with people in Halton who have lost thousands of pounds to scams.
If you need advice on anything else please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline or 0808 223 1133
