A YORK businessman has warned others to be on their guard after scamsters called him, purporting to be from HMRC.

Steve Harris, of Tang Hall, who owns minibus hire firm Anytime Travel York, said his phone rang on Tuesday and, when he answered, he heard an automated recording telling him he had been called that day by HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs).

He said the message went on to advise him to press 1 to speak to an adviser, and so he did this and spoke to a woman who knew his name and address, albeit an old address from two years ago.

“She said I had a problem with my tax bill and needed to pay more money to prevent bailiffs being called,” he said.

“At the start, I was convinced I was speaking to the HMRC but I thought it was strange, as I had paid my tax as normal and was also suspicious because they also had the address wrong.

“They then asked for my national insurance number to confirm my identity, saying they needed this so they could discuss the money I owed them.

“By now, I was feeling this was a scam, so I asked them for my personal tax reference number.”

He said the woman refused and, after a while, she put the phone down.

He did not think the HMRC would ever ring anyone this way and ask for such information, and was certain the phone call was from scamsters, perhaps intending to extract personal information to create a clone, or to obtain money directly.

Now he wants to warn other businessmen and women through The Press about the scam, as he feels someone else might get caught out and hand over important personal information or money.

An HMRC spokesman confirmed that the organisation did not operate automated call back messages of this nature.

He said: “We are aware that some customers have received telephone calls claiming to be from HMRC requesting personal information and bank account details in order to receive a tax refund, or to demand money for an unpaid tax bill.

“HMRC takes security very seriously but you need to be alert.

“If you cannot verify the identity of the person making the call you should not disclose your personal details.”

He urged anyone receiving such a call to report the matter to Action Fraud via http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report fraud.