(WXYZ) — With Tax Day approaching in under three weeks, I want to inform you about a warning from the Better Business Bureau.
During a discussion with a BBB spokesperson, I learned about a new scam emerging in 2025.
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“What is the new scam this year? Have you identified one?” I inquired of Melanie McGovern from the BBB.
“We’ve noticed an uptick in text messages indicating that you’re receiving a stimulus check from the IRS,” she responded.
This scam could catch you off guard as you prepare for the April 15 tax filing deadline.
“We encounter scams every year during tax season, but which one concerns you the most?” I asked.
“The most alarming one is people receiving text messages stating that the IRS owes them $1,400 due to a pandemic-related tax credit. There’s a link to click, making it seem legitimate, ‘hey, free money! It’s the IRS.’ However, the IRS does not send text messages,” McGovern clarified.
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This scam is particularly convincing because the IRS reports that 1.1 million individuals have approximately $1 billion in unclaimed refunds for the tax year 2021.
However, for those who did not file taxes for 2021, which would have occurred in the winter or spring of 2022, the deadline to claim that pandemic relief money is April 15—after which the funds revert to the U.S. Treasury.
While this information is accurate, it’s crucial to note that you cannot receive money by clicking a link in a text message, which is why the BBB is raising the alarm.
The BBB advises avoiding the stimulus check text scam by not clicking on any link claiming to be from the IRS. Remember, the IRS does not communicate via text messages.
Ensure you use trusted tax software or hire a reputable tax preparer, and check IRS.gov to access your tax records through your personal online account.
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