Another HMRC scam warning

SHETLAND Islands Council has issued another telephone scam warning. Locals have been warned about receiving calls from someone purporting to be from HM Revenue & Customs threatening legal action.

They will then be asked to provide personal details like their National Insurance number.

One woman who received the call said she got a “sinking feeling” that she had done her VAT return “very wrong”.

Trading standards team leader David Marsh said islanders should remain vigilant as yet another phone scam hit the isles.

“Callers have reported that the recorded message is of a man with a clear English accent, which has made them initially believe it to be genuine,” he said.

“HMRC is a guise that is regularly being used by scammers so we can only assume that it is one that gets results for them”.

“Never give out personal or financial details to anyone who cold calls you. There is no claim against you, so if you receive one of these calls then do not hesitate to put the phone down.”

Scam calls can be reported at www.actionfraud.police.uk, by phone on 0300 123 2040 or by contacting SIC’s trading standards team.