Fake Bank and HMRC Letters Highlight the Growing Threat of Postal Scams

Fraudsters are increasingly returning to traditional methods to target victims, with highly convincing scam letters claiming to be from trusted organisations such as banks and HMRC now appearing more frequently. 

Recent reports shared on BBC Morning Live highlight how criminals are deliberately using physical post to exploit trust, urgency and digital exclusion.

While much attention is placed on email and phone scams, postal fraud remains a significant and often overlooked risk, particularly for older individuals and those who rely more heavily on paper correspondence.

How the Scam Letters Work

Customers have reported receiving letters that appear to come from well-known financial institutions, including building societies. These letters closely resemble genuine bank communications, using official branding, realistic reference numbers and regulatory language to build credibility. In some cases, they promote so-called exclusive savings or investment opportunities, encouraging recipients to share personal details or make payments to a supposed partner organisation.

Criminals understand that physical letters often convey a sense of trustworthiness to many people. The fact that posting letters involves a cost also leads victims to assume the communication must be legitimate. This psychological manipulation makes postal scams particularly effective.

HMRC Impersonation and the Use of Urgency

Postal scams are not limited to banks. Fraudsters are also impersonating HMRC, sending letters that claim unpaid tax is owed, errors need correcting, or refunds are due. These letters often include accurate personal details, such as names and addresses, which may have been obtained through historic data breaches.

A common tactic is urgency. With self-assessment deadlines approaching, criminals exploit heightened anxiety around tax obligations. Threats of penalties, legal action or missed refunds are used to pressure recipients into acting quickly rather than verifying the request.

One of the clearest warning signs lies in how payment is requested. HMRC does not ask for money to be transferred into personal bank accounts and does not demand immediate bank transfers. Any request that bypasses standard payment channels should be treated with extreme caution.

Why Postal Scams Are So Dangerous

Postal scams can be especially harmful because they target individuals who may be less digitally confident. Victims often believe they are doing the right thing by responding promptly to official-looking correspondence. In some cases, losses can be substantial before banks or family members intervene.

Unlike email scams, which many people have learned to question, letters can bypass scepticism and land directly in the home, creating a false sense of legitimacy.

How Individuals Can Protect Themselves

Anyone receiving an unexpected letter claiming to be from a bank or HMRC is advised to stop and verify before taking any action. Verification should always be done using trusted contact details, such as the phone number on your bank card, an official website, or a local branch. Contact details provided in the letter itself should never be used.

Pressure to act quickly, unusual payment requests, and minor errors in account details are all red flags. Taking time to check is not only acceptable but essential.

Reporting and Disrupting Postal Scams

There are steps people can take beyond simply discarding scam letters. Reporting suspicious correspondence helps authorities understand how scams are evolving and enables them to disrupt organised criminal activity. Sharing examples with friends, neighbours, or community groups can also help protect others from falling victim.

Tools that enable individuals and organisations to verify the authenticity of suspicious messages and letters can help rebuild confidence and provide reassurance before any action is taken.

What Postal Scams Mean for Organisations

For organisations, postal scams highlight the need to view fraud risk holistically. While many prevention strategies focus heavily on digital channels, criminals continue to adapt, targeting areas where controls and awareness may be lower. Scam letters that misuse trusted brands can cause significant harm even where no systems have been compromised, exposing organisations to reputational damage, customer distress and regulatory scrutiny.

Effective fraud risk management therefore requires an understanding of how threats evolve across all communication channels, not just the most technologically advanced ones.

Conclusion

The resurgence of postal scams demonstrates that fraudsters will exploit any channel that inspires trust and offers opportunity. As awareness of digital scams increases, criminals are adapting by returning to more traditional methods that may sit outside the focus of many prevention strategies.

Preventing fraud requires vigilance across all communication channels, not just digital ones, and an appreciation of how criminal tactics evolve in response to changing controls and customer behaviour. By encouraging verification over urgency and maintaining a holistic view of fraud risk, both individuals and organisations can reduce the likelihood and impact of harm.

At AJC, we support organisations and communities in understanding emerging fraud risks, strengthening prevention strategies, and ensuring controls remain effective as threats continue to evolve.

Contact us on 020 7101 4861 or email us at info@ajollyconsulting.co.uk if you think we can help.

Sources:

BBC Morning Live, Warning over fake letters claiming to be from banks and HMRC, January 2026.
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