From parking fines to tax refunds, scammers are impersonating trusted organisations. Here are the scam messages doing the rounds right now.
We’ve all had it. A text lands from an unknown number. It mentions a missed payment, a fine, or something “urgent”. Our stomach drops before our brain catches up.
If it looks like it’s from the bank, HMRC, the council or a booking site we used last month, we’re primed to believe it. Scammers know this. That’s why most impersonation scams push urgency. Pay now. Click here. Act today.
With AI now copying logos, tone and wording, these messages can look frighteningly real. Millennials and children are increasingly falling victim. If the tech-savvy generations are getting caught out, it’s no wonder the rest of us are too.
That’s why Quids in! has pulled together the impersonation scams people are seeing right now. Because when it comes to scams, knowing what to look for really is our strongest defence.
The scams people are seeing right now
- Claim injury scam:
Claim injury texts are on the rise. These vague messages ask if we have been in an accident and could be owed compensation. If we respond, scammers may ask for personal details or pass our data to others. If we did not seek advice ourselves, these texts are almost certainly fake. Do not reply. Block the sender and report it to our mobile network.
- Parking fine texts
Messages will claim that we have an outstanding penalty charge notice. They will request urgent payment to avoid further action. Their goal is to try and steal our details. Councils are in charge of sending parking fines, typically through letters or secure emails. If we are unsure, we should contact our council to be extra safe.
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Impersonation
Scammers are pretending to be the Financial Conduct Authority, even offering to recover money we may have lost from loan scams. They will ask us for information such as PINs, passwords, or banking details. The FCA is clear it will never ask for this sensitive information, especially money transfers. If in doubt, check directly via the Financial Conduct Authority website here.
- Booking.com scam emails
Booking.com scam emails often target people who have recently booked accommodation. They request urgent payment to secure a reservation. We should always log into the site directly rather than clicking links in emails, which could leave us vulnerable to viruses and cyber attacks.
- HMRC tax return deadline scams
Around tax deadlines, HMRC scams surge. Last year, HMRC received 130,000 scam reports. Messages will claim we either owe money, are owed a refund, or HMRC needs our details to avoid being accused of tax evasion.
HMRC does contact us through email, phone call, text or letter. However, they won’t be asking for us to take action, just informing us of deadlines or developments. If we are unsure about a message from HMRC, we should go directly to their website for their contact information.
For more information on reporting email and text scams, go to GOV.UK.
Image: GOV.UK
