HMRC scammers target NI homes

Action Fraud is warning of a new telephone scam that's caught their attention in England and has recently surfaced in Northern Ireland.

No-one expects a phone call to end in theft, but that's exactly what scammers posing as HMRC agents are hoping.
Victims and targets are being contacted by phone or text and asked to pay a bogus debt.
Q Radio's Oran Meehan was targeted at his home in Newry:

"I picked up to a message left on the house phone. It was from a guy claiming to represent HMRC, and that they were taking a liable case against me.
I was instructed to press one to speak to a case manager."

Hundreds of cases have already been reported to Action Fraud.
In many of them victims are told to buy hundreds of pounds worth of iTunes gift cards.
The scammers then redeem the voucher codes and sell on the cards.
They are contacting victims in three ways: Voicemails, spoofed calls, and text messages.

Action Fraud has issued this advice:

•           HMRC will never use texts to tell you about a tax rebate or penalty or ever ask for payment in this way.

•           Telephone numbers and text messages can easily be spoofed. You should never trust the number you see on your telephone's display.

•           If you receive a suspicious cold call, end it immediately and report it to them on 0300 123 20 40