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HMRC Twitter account gets 'hacked' and spreads messages of inner peace for new campaign

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By Ishbel Macleod | PR and social media consultant

December 17, 2012 | 2 min read

HM Revenue and Customers press office Twitter account (@HMRCgovuk) has been 'hacked' this morning, with messages of peace instead being sent to promote a new campaign.

It began when the hacker tweeted ‘Hi HMRC’s followers, just to let you know HMRC have decided to stop tweeting about tax today and instead all look for inner peace xoxox’, before adding ‘Aah, what a relief from worrying about tax, it's like a weight being lifted from your shoulders #innerpeace’ and ‘You haven’t got a care in the world… You feel light…floating… you’ve achieved inner peace...’

The original tweet has received over 300 retweets in under half an hour.

Those on Twitter have different revelations on what happened, which some suggesting they are ‘having a small breakdown’, while others have asked ‘have you been on the Jäger already??’

However, HMRC then revealed all by tweeting 'HMRC has today launched its new advertising campaign, urging people to send in their 2011-12 tax return now – and find “inner peace" '.

The campaign urges anyone who hasn’t sent in their 2011-12 tax return to do it now, with ads set to roll out later.

As well as traditional posters, radio and newspaper ads, the campaign will use interactive digital advertising, showing people experiencing inner peace floating around on user's computer screens.

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