Warning about New Tax Scams via Text Messages
The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has warned of new scams targeting taxpayers during the current tax season. Scammers are impersonating the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) through text messages, claiming that recipients are eligible for Economic Impact Payments, also known as the "Recovery Rebate Credit." However, the real goal is to steal their personal information.
How does the scam work?
TIGTA explained that scammers are taking advantage of the IRS's recent announcement regarding automatic payments to eligible individuals who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. In reality, eligible taxpayers are not required to take any action, as these payments are sent automatically via direct deposit or paper check, making any claim to the contrary a fraudulent scam.
Warning signs of scams
According to the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP), there are several signs that a text message may be fraudulent, including:
Messages claiming to be from the IRS: The IRS does not communicate via text messages about economic impact payments or any sensitive financial matters.
Suspicious links: Federal government websites end in ".gov." Any link using extensions like ".com" or ".net" is a red flag.
Requests for personal information: Never share your personal or financial details, such as your Social Security number or bank account information, through unsolicited text messages.
What to do if you receive a suspicious message?
If you receive a text message claiming to be from the IRS, follow these steps:
Do not reply to the message, even if it looks official.
Do not click on any links that may be included in the message.
Report the message to the appropriate authorities or the IRS hotline to help track scammers and prevent future fraud.
Scams remain a recurring issue, especially during tax season, so it is important for taxpayers to stay vigilant and not share their personal information with untrusted entities.