The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration on Tuesday warned taxpayers that scammers are impersonating the IRS this tax season by sending fraudulent text messages to people asking them for sensitive personal information.
These fake texts make the recipients believe they’re going to receive an economic impact payment, also known as a recovery rebate credit, from the IRS but it’s a scam to steal their personal data, TIGTA said on Jan. 28.
“Don’t take the bait. Don’t respond. Report this scam to our hotline,” TIGTA said.
These scammers are preying on the IRS’s recent announcement to issue automatic payments to eligible people who didn’t claim the recovery rebate credit on their 2021 tax returns.
The IRS states that no action is needed by eligible taxpayers to receive these payments, TIGTA said. Instead, the payments will go out automatically and taxpayers should receive them by the end of this month. The payments will be automatically direct deposited or sent by paper check.
The National Association of Tax Professionals is reminding taxpayers that the IRS doesn’t request personal or financial information via text. Scammers are using these types of IRS announcements in an attempt to steal personal data.
“The rise in tax-related scams is troubling, especially when taxpayers are targeted during times of financial uncertainty,” Scott Artman, CEO of the NATP, said in a statement on Tuesday. “We urge taxpayers to stay vigilant and to consult trusted tax professionals who prioritize accuracy and integrity.”
Taxpayers should be on the lookout for the following red flags of a scam, according to the NATP:
- Text messages claiming to be from the IRS: The IRS does not communicate via text for economic impact payments or other sensitive matters.
- Suspicious links: Federal government website addresses end in “.gov”. Any other domain, such as “.com” or “.net,” is a red flag.
- Requests for personal information: Never share personal or financial details like Social Security numbers or bank account information in response to unsolicited texts.
If you receive a scam text message impersonating the IRS:
- Do not respond.
- Do not click any links.
- Report the message to the appropriate authorities or the IRS hotline.
More information about common tax scams and fraud can be found here.
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Tags: Income Tax, IRS, Taxes
