An urgent new scam warning has been issued to people in Gedling borough after a number of people reported they were called by HMRC and threatened with immediate court action by the taxman.
Nottinghamshire Police say they had two reports on Thursday (8) from people who’d been contacted by HMRC saying they owe money and that if they didn’t pay, an arrest warrant would be circulated.
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: “Luckily the victims were suspicious and didn’t pay anything but reported it to us instead.
“Please be vigilant against these kind of scams and alert your elderly and vulnerable loved ones too.
“HMRC would never call you up out of the blue on this issue. They certainly wouldn’t threaten you with arrest. If it was legitimate, there wouldn’t be the urgency for you to pay them then and then.”
People are being warned that if they get a call like this, they shouldn’t pay anything upfront.
They should take steps to verify the caller, ask if you can phone them back on a known number, for example or request proof in writing. If you’re unsure, you can always contact HMRC and ask their advice or call us on 101.
Always report any scams to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
