HMRC scam phone call

[mkmel]

Completely out of the blue today I received a phone call from 07912 014801.

I don't normally answer phone calls from numbers I don't recognize but today for one reason or another I did.

It was a recorded message purporting to be from HMRC. Telling me they were going to take legal action against me and that I should press button 1 to speak to them. Obviously I didn't press button 1.

I googled the number they rang on to see who rang me and probably see others mentioning they were scammers but nothing.

Anyone else had similar HMRC scam calls?

[ClaretTony]

Would you receive a call from HMRC via a mobile number?

[mkmel]

I know that and that's why I did nothing.

I just wondered if anyone else has had similar HMRC scam calls.

And after reading this thread maybe if anyone receives similar scam calls they too will just totally ignore it and not press button 1.

[Pickles]

I rarely answer the phone to numbers I don't know. If it's important and genuine, they'll leave a voicemail. Any number I don't recognise or feel a bit iffy about, I never answer. I then google the number and 9/10 it's a scam. A lot of phones will identify and block spam for you too. Pesky though and AI makes it easier for the wrong 'uns to do it.

[Bosscat]

Have had this one too ... ranks alongside the "this call is from your bank security, £500 has been transferred to an overseas account"

The scammers must get some that think its genuine

I always check a number on "who called me" and 9 times out of 10 they have been reported

[Accrington claret]

I get scam calls all the time. usually just hang up as it's easy to spot a scam
However if i have nothing else to do i keep them talking for half an hour or so before they hang up on me
Favourite of mine is accident claims. Tell them i had 12 people in the car, all dead while i'm still on life support.
So how much payout can i expect

[ElectroClaret]

Yes i get all sorts of scamming scumbags ringing. If it's an automated message i just hang up. If its an actual person, i either play along and ask ridiculous questions without giving any personal details away, or if im not in the mood for that, i scream the foulest expletive-ridden rant down the phone at the top of my voice.

That usually gets shut of em and cheers me up...

[bfcjg]

I've had the HMRC scam call, immediately blocked the number.

[boatshed bill]

If I get the chance I wind them up, particularly the one about insuring household appliances. However most are pre-recorded.

[Commy]

My friend kept someone on the phone for about an hour and a half and then told them she didn't have a computer . They told her what they thought of her and slammed the phone down.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

They’re quite funny
Pressing 1 usually connects you to someone who isn’t English, invariably Indian, or that area of the world

They’ll ask you to confirm your name and details, which is amusing because they rang you

They’ll claim they’re going to cancel your national insurance number and other stuff

They’ll make a vague claim you’ve been involved in some sort of fraud

If you’re quick, you can keep them going for ages on the phone

If you’re really good they’ll end up telling you to Fck off before hanging up on you

[Juan Tanamera]

I had similar to mkmel about 3 years ago and I noted the number too.
I actually rang HMRC to explain what had happened, gave them the number and they did the square root of **** all about it.

[Mondsley]

Scam calls purporting to be from HMRC have been around for a long time. Having worked for HMRC rest assured they will NEVER make unsolicited calls to your mobile or landline. I recall a colleague getting one of these calls on her mobile whilst we were in work. That was quite amusing.

[wilks_bfc]

I get scam calls all the time. usually just hang up as it's easy to spot a scam
However if i have nothing else to do i keep them talking for half an hour or so before they hang up on me
Favourite of mine is accident claims. Tell them i had 12 people in the car, all dead while i'm still on life support.
So how much payout can i expect

I had a similar one for an “accident I’d had”

When they asked what my injuries were I replied decapitation

They still continued asking questions

[Milltown1882]

I rarely answer the phone to numbers I don't know. If it's important and genuine, they'll leave a voicemail. Any number I don't recognise or feel a bit iffy about, I never answer. I then google the number and 9/10 it's a scam. A lot of phones will identify and block spam for you too. Pesky though and AI makes it easier for the wrong 'uns to do it.

Exactly this.

You’ll notice patterns in it where they’ve bulk bought numbers too so even if you block one you’ll get another the same day or day after with a slight variation. Always a scam.

[Bosscat]

Exactly this.

You’ll notice patterns in it where they’ve bulk bought numbers too so even if you block one you’ll get another the same day or day after with a slight variation. Always a scam.

They don't block buy numbers ...

Just like the E-mails where it 1st appears to look like its genuine (if you float your mouse cursor over the email the actual scumbag e-mail appears) they use a computer to fool your phone into thinking its a real number ... like all Scammers, as fast as technology gets a way to beat them they find a way to circumvent it .

I have had calls from people who said I had rung them from my landline ... when I hadn't ... which means the beltards can clone your number to use to try and scam folk.

BT (and mobile companies) need to come up with a way of stopping this.
The Telephone preference service does not work ... I subscribed to this to try and cut the number of calls we were getting but ... They still get through.

[addisclaret]

Have had this one too ... ranks alongside the "this call is from your bank security, £500 has been transferred to an overseas account"

The scammers must get some that think its genuine

I always check a number on "who called me" and 9 times out of 10 they have been reported

Indeed they do get many to think it's genuine.

Vishing scams in 2020 netted an estimated $40 mil in the US alone.

[CaptJohn]

If I get a call from an unknown number I'll usually note the number, cut them off before they have chance to waffle on and then check the number on who-called.co.uk It gives you a pretty good idea if they are scammers or engaged in fraud. The scammers are certainly upping their game at the moment and I have to admire some as they don't always appear to be after anything but the devil is always in the detail.

[Circa86]

You need to be very careful with simply checking numbers. It's possible for them to mimic a legitimate number. I was almost caught a couple of years ago by a scammer calling from the HSBC lost/stolen card number on the back of my bank card! If they say they're calling from the bank and you're unsure, just put the phone down and call the bank back.

Because they almost managed to hook me, they keep trying occasionally. I calmly ask them whether their parents are proud of what they do for a living.

[Colburn_Claret]

I just had an automated call informing me that I have had a £300 payment to Amazon, and a £1000 overseas transfer.
Press 1......

I waited patiently until the end then told them what I thought of them. I doubt anyone was listening, but ot made me feel better.

[HitchinClaret]

I just had an automated call informing me that I have had a £300 payment to Amazon, and a £1000 overseas transfer.
Press 1......

I waited patiently until the end then told them what I thought of them. I doubt anyone was listening, but ot made me feel better.

I had this very same call about an hour ago. He must have been 20 seconds into his patter when I just starting laughing, he just told me to F Off then hung up the phone!

[HitchinClaret]

* mine wasn't automated but some bloke with a strong Indian accent called Michael.