HMRC Phishing Plummets: Are Scammers Taking a Tea Break?
Phishing reports impersonating HM Revenue & Customs are slowing down, but SMS-based scams are on the rise. Bridewell’s study reveals a 60% dip in email phishing attempts by mid-2025. However, new AI tricks mean tax refund phishing remains a concerning threat, so stay alert for suspicious messages.
Hot Take:
Looks like HMRC impersonators are trying to take a fiscal holiday! While email-based scams are in a nosedive, SMS phishing is trying to fill the void. Maybe scammers are just tired of typing out those long emails and have opted for the snappier SMS. Remember, folks, it’s not just your tax return that needs attention; your text messages do too!
Key Points:
- HMRC phishing reports have decreased significantly over the past two years.
- Email phishing reports fell from 148,909 in 2023 to 38,012 in the first half of 2025.
- SMS phishing is on the rise, with 3,190 reports in early 2025.
- 296,000 tax refund phishing reports were filed over the last two and a half years.
- AI is making phishing tactics more sophisticated and harder to detect.
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