Guides covering HMRC, DVLA, TV Licensing, and government impersonation scams. Learn to verify official communications and avoid paying fake fines or fees.
Government impersonation scams use the names you can't ignore — HMRC, the DVLA, the DWP, the Home Office and TV Licensing — to make a fake message feel official. The lure is either a refund you're owed or a threat: a fine, arrest, a suspended benefit, or a visa or licence problem. Real government bodies contact you through official channels and your own accounts on gov.uk — so the safest move is always to check on gov.uk yourself, never through the link or number in the message.
Not sure about a 'government' message? Paste it into our free AI scam checker for an instant verdict.
HMRC is the most impersonated — fake tax-refund texts and emails, plus threats of unpaid-tax 'arrest'. The DVLA sends fake car-tax renewal and refund messages. Benefit and immigration scams impersonate the DWP (Universal Credit) and the Home Office (UKVI visa messages).
Others include fake passport-renewal sites (HMPO), TV Licence demands, court-summons emails (HMCTS), and council-tax texts.
Forward scam texts free to 7726. Report suspicious emails to the National Cyber Security Centre at report@phishing.gov.uk, and HMRC-branded scams specifically to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. If you've lost money or shared details, report to Action Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040 (in Scotland, Police Scotland on 101). You can also report fake gov.uk websites to the NCSC.
Scammers send official-looking letters claiming to be from Companies House, often demanding urgent payment for company registration or compliance fees. This guide explains how to spot these letters, verify genuine communications, and report them to the authorities.
Scammers send emails, texts, and letters pretending to be HMRC, claiming you owe tax or must verify your self-assessment details urgently. This guide explains how the scam works, what genuine HMRC contact looks like, and what to do if you've already engaged with a fake message.
Criminals send fake text messages claiming to be from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), asking you to verify your identity, confirm bank details, or click a link. These messages are designed to harvest your personal information or trick you into paying fake fines or fees.
Council housing scams target people desperate for affordable accommodation by posing as local authority housing departments. Scammers demand upfront fees, deposits, or personal information, then disappear or use stolen data for identity fraud.
Student Finance scams target UK students with fake loan offers, fake repayment demands, and phishing emails that look like official government communications. Scammers use urgency and authority to trick you into sharing bank details, passwords, or paying upfront fees.
Got an email claiming to be from UKVI about your visa or immigration application, demanding urgent payment? How to spot a fake UKVI scam and report it.
A text, call, or 'agent' offering help to claim Universal Credit, a grant, or an advance? How to spot a Universal Credit scam and protect your claim and money.
Got a letter demanding payment for an unpaid TV licence with a threat of prosecution? How to spot a fake TV Licensing letter and report it in the UK.
An email claims you've an unpaid fine or court date and must act now? Check the HMCTS domain and verify through official court details.
A text or email says your passport application needs an urgent fee? Check your own application on gov.uk first.
No. HMRC never notifies a tax refund, or asks for personal or payment details, by text or email containing a link. Genuine refunds are handled through your Personal Tax Account or by cheque — never by clicking a link in a message. Any 'HMRC refund' text or email with a link is a scam; check by signing in at gov.uk yourself.
Don't use the link in the message. Go to gov.uk directly, search for the service (for example vehicle tax), and sign in to your own account there. The DVLA doesn't send texts or emails asking you to 'confirm' payment details via a link, and official addresses end in gov.uk — watch for lookalikes with extra words or different endings.
If you only opened it, close and delete the message. If you entered card or bank details, contact your bank immediately to block the card and report fraud, and change any passwords you entered. If you shared personal data like your National Insurance number, watch for identity fraud. Report it to Action Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040.
Forward scam texts free to 7726. Report scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk (NCSC), and HMRC-branded ones to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. If money or details were lost, report to Action Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040 (Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland).