HMCTS Telephone Numbers Used By Tax Scammers

18th March 2021

Scammers using HM Courts & Tribunals Service telephone numbers to demand tax payments.

An increasing number of concerned individuals are contacting offices across HMCTS following emails or phone calls by scammers.

Scammers mimic legitimate phone numbers (spoofing) and may allege that you owe HMRC money and that a warrant for your arrest has been issued. Scammers may also tell you to look up contact details for HMCTS courts and offices to verify the number they are using to call.

These calls include:

previous mistakes in tax returns

National Insurance numbers being used fraudulently

HMCTS is separate from HMRC and is not involved with tax payments and will not contact you about tax matters. HMRC does not use any HMCTS phone numbers.

We will not call or email you about a tax matter.

If you receive a call or email, or any type of contact, do not provide any personal details or make a payment.

Check HMRC's scams checklist, find out how to report tax scams and get information on how to recognise genuine HMRC contacts.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/identify-hmrc-related-scam-phone-calls-emails-and-text-messages

If you are suspicious about a call or text, follow the checklist and contact HMRC.

If you have paid money, report the matter to Action Fraud.

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/