Tag: Fraud

Special fraud squad hunts down Covid loan scams

A new government counter-fraud squad has launched investigations against those who defrauded the public during the Covid pandemic. New enforcement unit pursues billions lost to British taxpayers during pandemic Recovery efforts intensify as nearly 2,000 company directors banned and 86 criminals prosecuted Investigators will be able to search properties, seize assets, and recover money directly … Continue reading Special fraud squad hunts down Covid loan scams →

Tax fraud warning: ‘Bills of Exchange’

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has seen an increase in attempts to use ‘Bills of Exchange’ to pay a tax liability. HMRC are aware that there are promoters, particularly in the recruitment and temporary labour sector, marketing their use. Organised Crime Groups are also particularly active in these sectors. HMRC have set out their position … Continue reading Tax fraud warning: ‘Bills of Exchange’ →

Global taskforce to hunt down overseas scammers

UK drives international action to go after scammers at the Global Fraud Summit, hosted by the United Nations in Vienna on 16th - 17th March 2026 Fraudsters targeting the British public will be hunted down by a new INTERPOL Global Taskforce, launched at the Global Fraud Summit. Codenamed Operation Shadow Storm, the new taskforce will … Continue reading Global taskforce to hunt down overseas scammers →

Investigation into $28 million crypto scheme

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) launches first major cryptocurrency investigation into suspected fraud. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) (20th November 2025) have issued an appeal for investors to come forward with any information they hold about the collapse of a $28 million cryptocurrency scheme called Basis Markets.  The SFO launched an investigation into the suspected fraudulent scheme with two raids in West Yorkshire … Continue reading Investigation into $28 million crypto scheme →

Mini Umbrella Company fraud tribunal win for HMRC

HMRC has secured a landmark victory at an Upper Tier Tribunal against Mini Umbrella Company (MUC) fraud.  The judgement states that MUC’s fraud is valued at hundreds of millions per year, through abuse of the VAT Flat Rate Scheme and Employment Allowance.  This tribunal decision is claimed to will help create fair competition for legitimate businesses, … Continue reading Mini Umbrella Company fraud tribunal win for HMRC →

PAYE fraud hits 100,000

It maybe feels like there shouldn’t be a lakh or hetsy about it! HM Revenue and Customs is writing to 100,000 tax payers after detecting unauthorised access to online tax accounts. These incidents are said to have involved criminals using personal information they had already obtained from external sources to impersonate tax payers and claim … Continue reading PAYE fraud hits 100,000 →

DWP blocks £1 billion in incorrect payments

Over £1 billion of Universal Credit payments stopped by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – and set to reach £13.6 billion by 2030. Drive to block incorrect payments significantly ramped up since last summer. Government efforts continue to protect taxpayers’ money from fraud, error and waste to reinvest in public services as part … Continue reading DWP blocks £1 billion in incorrect payments →

‘Fake DBS check’ recruitment scams

Disclosure & Barring Service is providing support to job seekers for a safer employment search. Non-existent DBS check scam Persuading job seekers to pay for a non-existent DBS check is a tactic being used by fraudsters to extract cash from their victims, with January and February a peak period for scammers to pounce.  Typically referenced … Continue reading ‘Fake DBS check’ recruitment scams →

GDPR tax relief claims! You’re kidding

GDPR tax relief! HMRC is aware of tax agents that target businesses to claim Corporation Tax refunds through incorrect provisions, linked to potential GDPR fines or civil claims. These claims are not in accordance with the law and HMRC will challenge anyone: making such claims who encourages or facilitates businesses to make false claims that reduce tax … Continue reading GDPR tax relief claims! You’re kidding →

Tackling COVID loan abuse

Work to tackle Covid loan abuse revealed in Insolvency Service’s Annual Report and Accounts More than 830 directors banned following Covid loan abuse in 2023-24  Steps taken towards the recovery of almost £3m for the taxpayer  Statistics released in service’s Annual Report and Accounts, which presents a snapshot of work carried out in 2023-24  Latest … Continue reading Tackling COVID loan abuse →

Fraudsters behind benefits scam brought to justice

A group who stole over £50 million of taxpayers’ money has been brought to justice in the largest ever benefit fraud case in England and Wales. Five people who stole £53.9 million through fabricated benefit claims have been brought to justice in England and Wales’ largest benefit fraud case  Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) … Continue reading Fraudsters behind benefits scam brought to justice →

‘Fake DBS check’ recruitment scams

Coinciding with the Home Office Stop! Think Fraud campaign, the Disclosure & Barring Service is providing support to job seekers for a safer employment search. Persuading job seekers to pay for a non-existent DBS check is a tactic being used by fraudsters to extract cash from their victims, with January and February a peak period … Continue reading ‘Fake DBS check’ recruitment scams →

Counter fraud authority saves taxpayers £311 million in its first year

The Public Sector Fraud Authority has exceeded its £180m target, saving taxpayers £311 million in its first year The savings come from counter fraud schemes designed to prevent, identify, and recover fraud in the public sector Baroness Neville-Rolfe revealed the “big win for taxpayers” at a meeting of the International Public Sector Fraud Forum, held … Continue reading Counter fraud authority saves taxpayers £311 million in its first year →

Consultation to ban scam calls launched

A special support service for victims of fraud has also been expanded to cover all 43 police forces in England and Wales. Plans to ban cold calls for financial products such as sham cryptocurrency schemes, mortgages and insurance have been set out with the launch of a consultation, marking the next step in delivering the … Continue reading Consultation to ban scam calls launched →

Action taken against directors for COVID-19 financial abuse

459 directors disqualified in 2022-23 for abuse of the pandemic financial support schemes, with average disqualification length of seven years four months. Over 450 directors have been disqualified by the Insolvency Service in 2022-23 for abusing the COVID-19 financial support scheme, as the agency continues to clamp down on pandemic fraudsters. Figures published by the … Continue reading Action taken against directors for COVID-19 financial abuse →

Take five to stop fraud

If someone contacts you saying they’re from @hmrcgovuk, wanting you to share personal or financial details or transfer money, be on your guard. Never let yourself be rushed. To help HMRC fight these crimes: forward suspicious emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599. PAYadvice.UK 12/4/2023

Self Assessment taxpayers could be fraudsters target

HMRC are always detecting new tax scams. Beware of fraudsters offering refunds or tax rebates in the run up to the 31st January Self Assessment deadline. In the 12 months to August 2022, HMRC has: responded to 181,296 referrals of suspicious contact from the public. Some 80,662 of these offered bogus tax rebates responded to 55,386 reports … Continue reading Self Assessment taxpayers could be fraudsters target →

Organised Labour Fraud

As part of the August 2022 employer bulletin, HMRC has issued information on Organised Labour Fraud. Organised labour fraud is the collective name HMRC gives to three main frauds: labour fraud in constructionmini-umbrella company fraudpayroll company fraud It’s ‘organised’ because it is orchestrated and conducted by organised crime groups. It’s ‘labour fraud’ because it always … Continue reading Organised Labour Fraud →

August 2022 HMRC Employer Bulletin

HMRC have published their August 2022 edition of the employers bulletin. It covers a multitude of topics: PAYE PAYE Settlement Agreements — introducing new digital version of the PSA1 Form Payment deadline and calculation reminder Employers PAYE — introduction of variable payment plan First Full Payment Submission for new starters: the importance of using the … Continue reading August 2022 HMRC Employer Bulletin →

New ‘fraud squad’ to crack down on criminals who steal taxpayer money

HM Treasury (by PSP) The Chancellor has announced that a new fraud squad, recruited from data analytics experts and leading economic crime investigators, will crack down on criminal gangs who rip off the taxpayer.Operational in July and based in the Cabinet Office, the new £25 million “Public Sector Fraud Authority” will double funding for the … Continue reading New ‘fraud squad’ to crack down on criminals who steal taxpayer money →

HMRC fraud squad takes back £1 billion from offenders

More than £1 billion has been recovered from the proceeds of crime and tax offenders since the formation of a specialist HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) fraud squad five years ago.  Launched in April 2016, the department’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) has now recovered assets equivalent to funding around 20,000 NHS nurses for an entire … Continue reading HMRC fraud squad takes back £1 billion from offenders →

Self Assessment – Don’t be scammed!

800,000 tax-related scams were reported in the last 12 months HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is preparing to issue emails and SMS to Self Assessment filers reminding them to be on their guard after nearly 800,000 tax-related scams were reported. Fraudsters are using Self Assessment to try and steal money or personal information from unsuspecting … Continue reading Self Assessment – Don’t be scammed! →

Bailiff email scam

The HM Courts and Tribunal service has warned that scammers posing as County Court bailiffs are sending emails trying to force companies and householders to make immediate payments. These scammers claim that the person owes money, often using the name ‘John Hutchinson’ as well as others. They follow up the email with a telephone call … Continue reading Bailiff email scam →

6,150 investigations of furlough fraud underway

In a parliamentary response to a question from the DUPs Mr Gregory Campbell asking for information on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the Treasury Minister Jesse Norman has confirmed that 1.3 million UK employers have used the furlough scheme to protect jobs. He also confirmed that HMRC have opened 6,150 inquiries into suspected overpayments … Continue reading 6,150 investigations of furlough fraud underway →

Payroll boss in tax avoidance scheme 11-year ban

Leicester payroll services boss banned for orchestrating multi-million pound tax avoidance scheme, while failing to justify £37 million expenditure in 11 months Scott Rooney, of Leicester, was appointed sole director of Magnetic Push Limited in February 2017. The company provided payroll services, trading from a serviced office in Liverpool, and was previously known as The … Continue reading Payroll boss in tax avoidance scheme 11-year ban →

New figures reveal victims lost over £63m to investment fraud scams on social media

Figures released by the City of London Police show criminals continue to use popular social media apps to advertise investment scams and contact potential victims. Over £63m was lost nationally by victims of investment fraud who referred to a social media platform in their report to Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime. … Continue reading New figures reveal victims lost over £63m to investment fraud scams on social media →

Supply chain due diligence to assure labour supply chains

HMRC have issued guidance (13th May 2021) to both and help warn business to be aware of risks within Labour supply chains. Why assure the labour supply chain Failing to take reasonable action to make sure that the supply of labour is legitimate can lead to significant legal, financial and reputational risks, liability for unpaid … Continue reading Supply chain due diligence to assure labour supply chains →

Mini Umbrella Company (MUC) fraud

HMRC have issued information on fraud being committed by a number of Mini Umbrella Companies. HMRC claim that every business which either places or uses temporary labour should be aware of the potential dangers posed to by mini umbrella company fraud. Not only can a fraudulent supply chain lead to reputational and financial damage to … Continue reading Mini Umbrella Company (MUC) fraud →

Raising awareness of job scams

Our aim is to raise awareness of scams and employment fraud among job seekers. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is running a campaign to raise awareness of job scams and employment fraud among job seekers. DBS is working alongside JobsAware, Disclosure Scotland and AccessNI. JobsAware is a non-profit organisation, with cross-government support, that informs people … Continue reading Raising awareness of job scams →

Furlough mistakes! 10,000 employers to receive letters

The HMRC’s Taxpayer Protection Taskforce, was set up to ensure that furlough money has been claimed correctly. The Taskforce is now writing to 10,000 more employers who they think may have made a mistakes with furlough claims. The letter will to ask the employer to check their claims. For support and guidance correcting claims see: … Continue reading Furlough mistakes! 10,000 employers to receive letters →

West Yorkshire pair arrested on suspicion of £3.4 million furlough fraud

A man and a woman from West Yorkshire have been arrested as part of an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation into a suspected £3.4 million Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) fraud. HMRC’s Taxpayer Protection Taskforce officers executed a search warrant on 28th April 2021 in the Bradford area and arrested a 35-year-old man and … Continue reading West Yorkshire pair arrested on suspicion of £3.4 million furlough fraud →

Furlough claim data updated

The Monthly data on claims made by employers through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for December 2020 and January 2021 has been updated (7th April 2021). Transparency data - Employers who have claimed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Future publications HMRC will publish a new list each month alongside the historical data already published. … Continue reading Furlough claim data updated →

HMRC Anti Money Laundering team change name to Economic Crime Supervision

Dear Payadvice, HMRC's Anti Money Laundering Supervision (AMLS) team is changing its name to Economic Crime Supervision (ECS) from 1‌‌ April 2021. This change does not affect our responsibilities under the Money Laundering Regulations or how we will interact with you.   You may continue to see AMLS referenced in correspondence from us during April whilst the changes take effect. You … Continue reading HMRC Anti Money Laundering team change name to Economic Crime Supervision →

Tax scammers are mimicking official numbers!

Scammers are using Royal Courts of Justice telephone numbers to demand tax payments. An increasing number of concerned individuals are contacting offices across the Royal Courts of Justice following emails or phone calls by scammers. The scammers allege that payment is owed to HMRC and that warrants for arrest have been issued. Scammers tell individuals … Continue reading Tax scammers are mimicking official numbers! →