Tax Day is April 15, and internet scammers will capitalize on the moment. The Internal Revenue Service initiates most contact through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service. To verify the IRS sent the letter, you can search for it on IRS.gov. Sometimes, they will call or visit, but other than that, the Internal Revenue Service only emails or texts you with your permission. For example, if you receive a text like this one, then you should be suspicious.
This impersonator is after your bank account information. For your safety, don’t reply or visit any links. If you clicked on links in a suspicious text and entered confidential information, visit Identity Theft Central.
Collection Scams
If you receive a call or letter asking for money, here are some tips from the IRS on how to recognize a collection scam.
- Contact you or take payment on social media
- Accept gift cards or prepaid debit cards
- Threaten to call law enforcement or immigration officials
- Take your citizenship status, driver’s license, or business license
- Leave pre-recorded voicemails
- Mail tax debt resolution advertisements
Refund Scams
Some tax scammers mislead victims into believing they are owed a refund. Instead of money, these scammers are after your personal or financial information. They might ask for Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, or anything else they need to steal your money or identity. Do not interact with these messages. Instead, check if you have a pending refund using the Where’s My Refund? tool on IRS.gov.
Protect Yourself
As you prepare for the tax filing deadline, please remain vigilant against attackers who impersonate the IRS during tax season. If you believe you are the victim of a tax scam, the IRS has a reporting guide at Tax Scams – How to Report Them.