Millions of UK Households Warned Over Fake HMRC Messages

Fake HMRC messages work because they arrive at exactly the kind of moment when people are already worried about money, tax, payments, refunds, or benefits. A message that looks official can make someone click first and think later, especially if it mentions a deadline, a refund, or a payment problem.

The latest warning matters because HMRC is genuinely sending some tax-related text messages, including final tax credits payment messages between May 18 and June 29, 2026. That makes the scam risk sharper: people need to know the difference between a real update and a fake message designed to steal personal or banking details.