HMRC to target cyber criminals

Issued: 13th March 2012

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has stepped up its campaign against cyber criminals with the launch of a new cyber crime team designed to tackle tax fraud. This new team has been launched in a bid to protect the exchequer from any attempted fraud from cyber criminals adopting sophisticated ways to target HMRC’s repayment systems.

Under the plans, the new cyber crime team will protect both HMRC and taxpayers from criminals while building on HMRC’s current cyber counter-fraud capabilities. The new initiative will make up a key element of HMRC’s new Cyber Crime and Security Strategy. High calibre analysts, technical experts and investigators have been recruited to the team to help protect HMRC and its customers from fraud.

The new team will provide HMRC with expert advice and analysis on how best to keep services secure, while aiding criminal investigators with their technical expertise. David Gauke, the exchequer secretary, said: “In the last year alone, customers reported over 200,000 bogus emails purporting to come from HMRC. HMRC is getting ahead of the curve – taking forward what it is already doing in a better way.”

The FSA does not regulate tax advice. Tax rules are subject to change.