The HMRC Refund Temptation

Flggd Scam School · Government & Law Enforcement Scams · Lesson 2 of 14

A text says HMRC owes you a tax refund, and there's a link to claim it. If you're searching for the HMRC refund text scam, you've already spotted the right thing to question.

The message looks like this

Why this is a scam

HMRC does not text refund links. Real rebates are handled through your personal tax account on gov.uk or by letter; the money arrives without a claim form.

The link leads to a copycat page that asks for your name, address, National Insurance number, and bank or card details "to receive the payment". That's everything needed to empty an account or steal an identity.

A refund with a deadline is the tell. Money that is genuinely yours does not expire in 48 hours.

Red flags checklist

• A refund arrives by text, out of nowhere.

• The link isn't gov.uk; it's a lookalike with extra words.

• There's a deadline to claim your own money.

• The page asks for bank or card details to "receive" a payment.

• The message threatens that the refund will be forfeited.

The manipulation tactic

This one runs on temptation with a timer. Free money plus a countdown makes people tap before they check.

What to do, and what not to do

• Don't tap the link or fill in anything.

• Check your real tax account by typing gov.uk into your browser yourself.

• Forward the text to 60599, HMRC's official reporting number, then delete it.

• Never enter bank details to receive a refund; real refunds already know where to go.

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