HMRC Warns of Over 135,000 Scam Reports

Infosecurity Magazine

December 18, 2025 at 9:30 AM

Actively Exploited

Overview

The UK's tax office, HMRC, has reported receiving over 135,500 allegations of scams in the last ten months. Among these, about 4,800 cases are tied directly to self-assessment tax filings. These scams typically involve fraudulent communications that attempt to deceive taxpayers into providing personal information or money. This uptick in scam reports is alarming, as it indicates a significant threat to individuals who may be unaware of these schemes. HMRC urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to help combat these scams effectively.

Key Takeaways

Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
Affected Systems: Individuals filing self-assessment tax returns in the UK
Action Required: Be cautious of unsolicited communications and verify the legitimacy of any requests for personal information; report suspicious activity to HMRC.
Timeline: Ongoing since the last 10 months

Original Article Summary

The UK’s tax office has received 135,500 reports of suspected scams in the past 10 months including 4800 related to self assessment filings

Impact

Individuals filing self-assessment tax returns in the UK

Exploitation Status

This vulnerability is confirmed to be actively exploited by attackers in real-world attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching or implementing workarounds immediately.

Timeline

Ongoing since the last 10 months

Remediation

Be cautious of unsolicited communications and verify the legitimacy of any requests for personal information; report suspicious activity to HMRC.

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Read Original Article

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