January’s Cyber Crime Newsletter attached with advice from Isobel, (Cyber Protect Officer) below:

• Neighbourhood Watch Alert: Tax Scams
• HMRC is warning of a rise in Self Assessment scams ahead of the January 31st filing deadline.
• Scammers will often target taxpayers around peak filing periods, using persuasive or threatening tactics to obtain personal information or try and get the individual to make a payment to them. They may also try to get people to download malicious software. HMRC will never ask for bank account details or personal information via text message or email, and will never leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest.

If you get an unexpected text or email, do not click on any links or open any attachments. If you receive a phone call and feel uncomfortable or suspect it could be a scam, hang up. Only contact organisations using official numbers that you’ve researched yourself.

You can forward HMRC scam texts to 60599, and forward scam texts from any other organisations to 7726. Forward phishing HMRC emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.

Please stay alert, and stay safe online.

Attachments:

• nhw-jan-tax-scams.pdf