Can anyone help please?

Most scam calls are from international numbers. I just press the answer button and immediately the end call button. That way, it doesn't go to the answer phone and the two clicks just sound like dead number.

I never answer to numbers I do not know. If there is a message left it is usually obviously from a call centre so I delete it. Occasionally I look up the number on a reverse telephone number site and it is usually a scam call as described by other contributors on the site.

If I am forced to pick up eg when expecting a call from someone whose number is not recorded, I lie! I've just installed a new kitchen, double glazing, carpets etc. I've just received thousands from a PPI claim or I have a son/daughter who is a police officer/solicitor/computer engineer or other relevant occupation who sorts out my affairs!

It's a scam. HMRC do not 'phone you.

My former employer write letters.

They never ever call you out of the blue. I did an astonishingly small amount of business over the phone and these were long standing investigations.

If we do not write to you, DO NOT RESPOND WITH ANY INFORMATION. Put the phone down immediately.

As others have said on here chicken, HMRC never call out of the blue, they do everything by post
Last week we had a cold call saying that our BT broadband was to be cut off at 12 00 that evening, sorry, we don’t have our broadband from BT but another company.

HMRC have NEVER phoned me. They always write.

As a Befriender with Age uk I've had to go out (in the evening) twice recently to calm down 2 people who have received these calls.
It's very difficult to explain to some older people that this is a scam because all they keep saying is: " but they say they are HMRC/VAT etc and they have my telephone number"
Try explaining the Nigerian fraud factories to them?
I tell them: if you don't recognise the number, don't answer.
The reason for this is: if you keep answering these numbers they know the number is still 'live'
Or, you use my system, a loud whistle. I haven't had a cold call for 2yrs?
Short of that, if I knew where they lived I would get a hit man on them I'm serious.

Thank you all . I went on to the GOV.UK site which asks that you report suspicious calls but there is no apparent way to report them on the site! Anyway, I reported it to Action Fraud.

The HMRC scam calls have been around for a long time. Just put the phone down. If they want to get in touch with you they will send a letter.

We got a phone from BT that screens all our calls. Anyone on our list gets through no problem anyone else has to state their name before we accept the call , we have not had one spam call since we installed it . You can even choose to put the caller to leave a message if you are not sure if you want to answer. I quite miss winding the scammers up .

Chicken we have a relative that works in anti fraud, who says there are many scammers there, also Birmingham, so be very careful.

I keep our answerphone on all the time and only pick up if it's family or friends or I'm happy it's a genuine call. I often rewind a message but rarely call them back.

If you answer a harmless but annoying call they just keep pestering you so better to leave them rambling to themselves.

Also, for ANY suspicious phone call, put the phone down, then phone from ANOTHER phone. The scammers can keep the line open even if you think they or you have rung off, and than then pretend to be the bank, HMRC or whoever. My partner was caught out by this.

Thankyou both so much. I'll get in touch with the GOV.UK site now.

It is scam, HRMC do not phone you. Check out the number on Who called me ?
Whatever you do don't press any numbers or give any details.
If you are really concerned find a local office from the phone book and speak to them, do not ring the number quoted in the phone call, it will take you straight to the criminals.

www.thesun.co.uk/money/5754778/warning-over-hmrc-phone-call-scam-that-could-cost-you-money/amp/
Scam!!! The link above explains it all.
HMRC will always write.
If in doubt always ask for them what your national insurance number is!
If the don’t know they are not HMRC.

You are right to be suspicious chicken. The 01274 are code is for Bradford. If the call said "international" then it is more than likely a scam. I would ignore it.
Here is some advice from HMRC.

If you receive a suspicious cold call, end it immediately. Call HMRC directly to check if it was a genuine call – you can confirm the official call centre numbers on GOV.UK.
You should report these incidents on the Action Fraud website, or you can call them on 0300 123 2040 (please note this number will be charged at your normal network rate). They are open Monday to Friday 09:00 - 18:00.
You should also report the full details of the scam to HMRC (date, time, phone number used and content of the call) using email [email protected]
For information on other types of scams that purportedly come from HMRC, please see our earlier news piece.

(25-04-2018)

Contact: Meredith McCammond (please use our Contact Us form) or follow us on Twitter: @LITRGNews

It's probably a scam where you will be asked to press 9 at some point therefore costing you a fortune in a phone bill at a later date so just ignore.
It makes my blood boil.