Martin Lewis warns all UK taxpayers about 1 scam in March

The end of the tax year is just around the corner and Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has pointed out one scam that you could encounter. HMRC will be contacting people about tax refunds as the financial year comes to a close in April but Martin says scammers could trick you by pretending to be the tax man. Each year, millions fall for scams through mail, email, phone, text, or online - it’s important to make sure you’re not one of them. Scammers often make their scams look real, so don't be deceived by professional-looking websites or materials. If you're asked to send money to someone you don’t know or claim you're owed money - this should raise warning signs. Money saving guru Martin Lewis issued a warning about receiving scam calls - after one targeted him.

The financial advice expert was called by an automated system which claimed it was from the HMRC (His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) - and decided to play along, reports Wales Online. He was told that he should press the number 1 - which he did. Martin told his twitter followers: “Just got a scam automated call from ‘HMRC’ on my mobile. Electronic voice with US accent telling me I hadn’t replied to a letter and legal action was being started... “press 1 to urgently speak to an agent”. “Decided to play along and see what happened. Pressed 1, man answered saying HMRC, I said “Hello can you tell me which HMRC office you are part of please. that was enough. He rang off. No fun at all!”

A common trick is fake emails about tax refunds or threats of arrest for unpaid taxes. You should check government guidance to spot real HMRC messages. If you're unsure, ignore or report suspicious communications.

To spot scams, you should be wary of unsolicited messages or calls from unfamiliar sources, especially those asking for personal information or money. You should also check for signs of urgency, such as threats or promises of rewards, which are often used to pressure you into quick decisions.

It’s always good to make sure you verify the legitimacy of offers by researching the company or individual through official websites or trusted sources.

A final tip is to be cautious of suspicious links or attachments as this may lead to phishing sites or contain malware.

The end of the tax year is on the 5th April this year and it’s a prime time when people fall victim to scams while finalising tax returns.

To ensure you don’t lose any of your hard-earned cash, keep an eye out for any ways you could be tricked this spring.